hackathon

20.3.-22.3.2015

When: fri 20.3 - sun 22.3
For whom: Everyone interested in developing electronic educational games and exercises.
Where: In Boost-Turku, Datacity A-wing.
Rewards: See rules and rewards
Enrolling: Registration has been closed.
Should problems arise, contact emakur@utu.fi

Enroll to the ViLLE-edugame-Hackathon 2015!

Before registering, familiarize yourself with the event, rules ja schedule.

Registration has been closed!


What's a hackathon?

If you are interested in developing an educational game or a web-app based on the Vaadin-framework, ViLLE-hackathon is for you.

Hackathon is a few-day-long intensive event, in which the purpose is to develop something new or familiarize oneself with a new programming language or environment. An important part of any hackathon is to meet new people, team up and work together. Time's short and there's much to do. Food and drinks are provided by the organizers.

In a ViLLE-hackathon, a main theme is the ViLLE-learning environment (http://ville.cs.utu.fi). Hackathon participants can use the so-called ViLLE-stub to develop for ViLLE (https://github.com/villeteam/vexer). The goal is to develop or plan an educational exercise or game. Programming for the ViLLE-stub is done with Java, but games/exercises made using JavaScript can be easily integrated. The Vaadin-framework is used when developing for ViLLE (http://vaadin.com). A working knowledge of Java or Javascript is recommended, but any programming language coupled with the right attitude will surely be enough!

Before the actual event, a few preliminary lectures ave given. Attendance is recommended, but not obligatory. The lectures are given on Friday, March 20 and are about using Vaadin and educational games. Have a closer look at the schedule.

You can and should participate in the ViLLE-Hackathon even if you don't know how to program. Because the goal is to create an educational game or exercise, any pedagogic know-how and experience will surely be helpful. In addition to pedagogic know-how, all teams are bound to need artists and other doers. The organizers will be there to help and answer any and all pedagogic or technical questions.

Rules

Brainstorming, grouping and all development must be done during the event. Participating with a half-made product is not allowed.

At the end of the ViLLE-Hackathon, a jury will evaluate all entries based on the criteria below. Each team can only submit to one category. The category for Best development the jury will evaluate all developed products and reward the teams that have a good product. In the category for Best plan, the plan deemed the best by the jury will be rewarded.

All submitted products must be licenced with either a MIT- or BSD-licence. Any libraries used in the submission must also be open (MIT, LGPL).

It is possible for the students of the University of Turku to perform the IT-department's "Exercise work"-course (3 study points) by submitting a well-documented, working Hackathon-project at the end of the event. Inquire at villeteam@utu.fi for the arrangements.

The grading criteria for both categories:

1. Best Implementation (500€/team)
Multiple teams may be rewarded.

2. Best plan (200€/team)
Only one team will be rewarded.

Schedule

Friday
12.00-14.00 Vaadin lecture (ICT-building/Beta)
14.00-16.00 Lecture about edugame design (ICT-building/Beta). Also instruction how to setup ViLLE stub.
18.00-19.30 Start of the ViLLE-Hackathonin (DataCity A-wing, Boost turku)
20.00 Supper
22.00-23.00 Idea presentation
 
Saturday
10.00 Brunch
14.00-15.00 Progress presentation
16.00 Dinner
22.00 Supper
 
Sunday
10.00 Brunch
12.00-13.00 Final presentation
14.00 Award ceremony and ending the Hackathon