Fostering Innovation in Education: The Greenhack Story

“To me the hackathon has shown itself to be a space, where we can stop and concentrate on just one thing. We don’t hang around in social media or do our own stuff as the team and what it is doing keeps us tightly in one place. This I think is a very valuable experience especially for high school students. Another great added value in a hackathon is the meeting between different kinds of people, practising working together and the result this cooperation achieves.”

?Elise Salonen, @Teacher at Turun yliopisto - University of Turku

In a groundbreaking initiative led by Turku University Teacher Training School, teachers across Finland are being empowered to explore and implement innovation processes within schools. This transformative journey, part of the "Hacking the 6th Wave" project, aims to integrate the dynamic hackathon model into the educational system, sparking creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking among students and educators alike.

The project was a collaborative effort between the Turku University Teacher Training School and Educraftor, funded by the Opetushallitus - Utbildningsstyrelsen - Finnish National Agency for Education, focusing on schools across Finland.

Duration and Process

Spanning one school year, with a pivotal one-week phase, the project involved coaching teachers through the planning and execution of a hackathon named "Greenhack," moving from experiencing to organising.

The Genesis of Innovation

In the 2017–2018 academic year, six upper secondary schools embarked on an eye-opening journey, participating in two "Eduhacks." This initial exposure to hackathons was exhilarating, challenging, and full of promise. By the autumn of 2018, the same group of teachers expressed a keen interest in taking the reins and organising their own hackathon, thus continuing to explore this innovative operational model within the educational framework and engaging more teachers and students in the process.

Steps Towards Empowerment

The transition from participants to organisers required careful coordination and coaching. The project team facilitated a one-day meeting involving all stakeholders, aiming to reflect on past experiences and plan future actions. Utilising tools like Innoduel for brainstorming and clustering ideas proved effective, culminating in the conceptualization of the "Greenhack" event.

Learning by Doing

A trial run preceding Greenhack allowed teachers to fine-tune the hackathon essentials, confirming the value of hands-on learning. Tools such as Kanban boards and Fleep facilitated project management and communication, empowering teachers to lead the initiative with confidence.

Impact and Insights

Greenhack focused on climate change, inviting innovative solutions and incorporating circular economy principles with external partners. The event saw participation from seven teams across four upper secondary schools, fostering an environment of intensive collaboration and creativity.

A Sustainable Model for Future Education

The success of Greenhack has paved the way for hackathons to become a staple in the educational landscape, with plans for future projects and funding applications already in discussion. This initiative has not only introduced teachers to the hackathon format as a potent tool for learning and innovation but has also cultivated a robust network of educators keen on making a lasting impact.

The Path Forward

As the project demonstrated, hackathons can significantly enrich the educational experience, teaching valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom. The Finnish National Agency for Education, Turku University Teacher Training School, and their partners are committed to supporting other schools in adopting this innovative approach, ready to guide them through the process of organising their hackathons and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration in education.

This story of Greenhack is more than just an account of a successful event; it's a testament to the power of collaborative innovation in shaping the future of education, creating a more engaging, relevant, and impactful learning environment for students and teachers alike.

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