STEMedia Presents

GAME CHANGERS

Tech Challenge

November 12th, 2023

Hosted By:

Build your best educational game + win up to $1000 in PRIZES!

Are you ready to unleash your creativity, coding skills, and passion for technology? Look no further!

Game Changers is a tech challenge that will take you on an exhilarating journey of innovation and problem-solving.

Join a community of young visionaries and change-makers ready to challenge the status quo and revolutionize the gaming world.

This event is for beginner teens and young adults (14 - 24 years old) interested in coding and getting into Tech careers!

PROJECT THEME:

Education Technology


CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:

Participants will use beginner-friendly languages and programs to develop software-based educational web games within a set timeframe:

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Training 1: Oct. 29th

    • virtual, 5:00–6:00 PM

  • Training 2: Nov. 5th

    • virtual, 5:00–6:00 PM

  • Design Sprint: Nov. 11th

  • Hackathon: Nov. 12th

    • 3:00 – 8:00 PM

    • North Carolina ESports Academy

    • Pizza dinner will be provided

Event Partners & Sponsors

Pricing Details

TEAMS OF 2: $25.00 USD

TEAMS OF 3-4: $40.00USD

INDIVIDUALS: $15.00 USD

Registration Form

Make sure to scroll down all the way within form to submit.

Email team@stemedia.com if you have issues.

Location Details

Waverly Place Shopping Center

316 Colonades Way #108C

Cary, NC 27518

 

FORMAT

  • The hackathon will focus on beginner-friendly projects, encouraging participants to explore innovative solutions in a supportive environment.

  • The hackathon will be a half-day event, 4 hours total.

    Opens at 5pm, kicks off at 5:30 pm, half-time at 7:30, ends at 10:30 pm.

  • Participants can form teams of 2-4 members.

    Registered individuals will be placed on a team of similar age.

  • Mentors will be available throughout the event to guide and support beginner participants.

  • Optional workshops will be conducted before the tech challenge to introduce participants to relevant tools, technologies, and concepts.

RULES

  • The hackathon is open to individuals who are new to coding, design, and entrepreneurship.

    Beginners passionate about learning and creating are encouraged to participate

    No more than 2 years of coding experience AND have not had a paid job coding.

  • Participants must create original projects during the hackathon.

    They can utilize open-source libraries, frameworks, and APIs, but plagiarism or copying existing projects will lead to disqualification.

  • Collaboration and teamwork are encouraged. Participants can share ideas, seek help from mentors, and work together to develop their projects.

  • Participants must adhere to a code of conduct, promoting respect, inclusivity, and a safe environment for all attendees.

  • At the end of the hackathon, each team will present their project to the judges.

    Presentations should include a demo of the project and a brief explanation of its features and functionalities.

  • Projects will be evaluated based on creativity, functionality, technical complexity (relative to the participant's skill level), and overall presentation.

Skills Learned During Hackathon

  • Problem-solving

    Participants learn to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and develop strategies to solve them efficiently.

  • Teamwork and collaboration

    You'll learn to contribute your ideas, listen to others, and work together to build something amazing.

  • Coding Basics

    You may learn new programming languages, frameworks, or libraries and gain hands-on experience developing a web-based game.

  • Time Management

    Participants learn to manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks, and make strategic decisions to deliver a working solution within the given time constraints.

  • Rapid Prototyping

    Hackathons emphasize the importance of quickly building prototypes and minimum viable products (MVPs). You'll learn to focus on essential features, create functional demos, and iterate based on user feedback.

  • Presentation

    At the end of a hackathon, teams often showcase their projects and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges or the entire audience. You'll gain experience in crafting persuasive presentations, explaining your project concisely, and highlighting its unique aspects and value proposition.