Workshops and Learning Resources

Providing structured training and readily available resources boosts the confidence of first-time hackers and encourages teams. Evaluate the length of your event and organizer capacity to determine the optimal mix of resources.

Asynchronous Content

Since many participants will prioritize building time during the event, providing accessible, asynchronous materials is critical. Async resources allow students to familiarize themselves with tools and concepts on their own schedule before the hackathon begins.

Resource Type	Content Focus	Suggested Delivery Method
Introductory Electronics	Basic component identification, breadboard wiring fundamentals, introduction to Arduino or Raspberry Pi.	Video Tutorials: Short, 5-10 minute videos demonstrating essential skills.
Fabrication Basics	Safe use of a hot glue gun, principles of 3D printing (slicing, preparing a file), basic cardboard prototyping.	Guides (PDF): Simple, graphic-heavy guides for quick reference
Coding for Hardware	Installing the IDE (Arduino or platform-specific), basic "Hello World" code for a microcontroller (e.g., blinking an LED), troubleshooting driver issues.	Async Resource Repository: A dedicated Google Drive or GitHub repository with code snippets and setup instructions
Design Thinking	the "How Might We" method for defining a problem, inclusive problem solving	Video/Guide (PDF): Focusing on the Empathize and Define stages of the prototyping process
Libraries	Links to specific libraries for components in the hardware lab	All in one document (PDF) or webpage with links

Pre-Hackathon Workshops

If hosting workshops before the event, focus on hands-on training for the primary components being used. For example:

• Introduction to Microcontrollers: Hands-on workshop focusing on the core device provided (e.g., Arduino UNO). This covers basic wiring and the necessary initial code upload.

• Starter Templates Worth Editing (With AI): Workshop focusing on where to find starter code and how to modify it with or without AI

Workshops During the Hackathon

Limit the number of workshops during an event as they consume valuable building time. Schedule them earlier in the event when hackers are most likely to need guidance. These workshops should focus on core skills necessary for the weekend.

Beginner Workshops Ideas:

• Introduction to Microcontrollers (if not done before the event)

• 3D Modeling Basics (crash course on free CAD software like Tinkercad)

• Circuit Theory for Hackers (non-intimidating session on voltage, current, and multimeters)

Additional Workshops Ideas:

• Planning Your Hardware Project

• Debugging Your Hardware Project

• Aesthetics and Enclosure Design

• Demoing Your Hack (pitch practice)