Third Annual CoderDojo Indiana Youth Hackathon

READY... SET... CODE!

Please join TechPoint Foundation for Youth at DeveloperTown for the third annual CoderDojo Indiana Youth Hackathon on Saturday, July 20th, 2019. If you are between the ages of 7-17, come show or learn some coding skills, have fun, make a new friend or two, eat lunch on us, and maybe win an award or a prize...all for FREE!

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CHALLENGES EVENT

The Challenges Event  will once again feature coding challenges for block-based coders and text-based coders. Block-based challenge coders will create their solutions using Scratch. Text-based coders will create their solutions in Python, JavaScript, or Ruby, all on the repl.it platform.

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PROJECT EXPO EVENT

An even bigger addition to this year’s Hackathon will be the Project Expo Event. For this event, coders will create projects BEFORE the Hackathon, bring them to the Hackathon, and show and explain them to judges at the Hackathon. These projects may be created individually or by teams of up to three coders. Participants must bring any and all software and hardware to demonstrate their project. The project categories are:

• Scratch - Projects of any type created using Scratch. Click here for an example.

• Games - Game projects created in any text-based language on any hardware. Click here for an example.

• Social Enterprise - Projects that help the people in your community created using any language (including both Scratch and text-based languages) on any hardware. Click here for an example.

The age groups for Project Expo will be:

• 7-11 years of age

• 12-17 years of age       

IMPORTANT: Coders may register for only one Challenges category (either Scratch OR text-based) and may register for only one Project Expo project. However, coders may register for both the Challenges AND the Project Expo, as these events will NOT overlap.

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MY FIRST DOJO EVENT

For newbies with little to no coding experience, the My First Dojo Event will be back. This year, participants will be led through some introductory CoderDojo activities using Scratch. However, there will plenty of time to express your own creativity while self-exploring the more powerful features of Scratch. 

IMPORTANT: My First Dojo participants may not register for any other event.   

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CODERDOJO 101 FOR PARENTS

New this year is an activity for parents/caregivers attending the Hackathon. Here, current CoderDojo Champions (leaders) will explain: what is a CoderDojo, the history of CoderDojo, what is coding and why should your kids learn to code and more! Plus, you will be given the chance to do a little coding yourself. Parents/caregivers - come join us - why let the kids have all the fun!   

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AWARDS

CoderDojo Indiana strives to recognize coders who demonstrate our core values: innovation, determination, and collaboration. We will award individuals and/or team for solutions and projects that exhibit excellence, innovation, determination, and collaboration for both the Challenge Event and the Project Expo Event. Coders will also have a chance to win door prizes, giveaways, and other cool tech swag!

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TENTATIVE EVENT SCHEDULE

9:00am Doors open

9:00am Registration check in

9:30am Opening ceremony + instructions

10:00am Challenges Event begins

10:00am My First Dojo Event begins

10::00am CoderDojo 101 for Parents begins

12:00pm Challenges Event closes

12:00pm My First Dojo Event closes

12:00pm Lunch is served

12:00pm Project Expo Event setup begins

12:30pm Project Expo Event begins

2:00pm Project Expo Event closes

2:00pm Wrap up + awards + closing ceremony

3:00pm Doors close

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FAQs

Who should complete the registration?

The person completing the registration must have an email address and can be a parent/caregiver. The tickets themselves are issued to the coder(s). A parent/caregiver may secure tickets for more than one coder during a single registration process.   

What age must I be to participate in any of the  2019 CoderDojo Indiana Youth Hackathon Events?

Coders must be between the ages of 7-17.

How much does it cost to attend the 2019 CoderDojo Indiana Youth Hackathon?

It is free and even includes lunch!

What are Challenges?

Challenges are problems that will be given to coders for which they must design and implement a coding solution. They will be challenging!

What is Scratch?

Scratch is a visual, block-based educational programming language. If you have little or no coding experience, consider learning Scratch by coding projects like the ones here, or register for the My First Dojo Event to learn a little bit about Scratch with us at the Hackathon!

Can I register for both the block-based challenges and the text-based challenges?

No, these challenges run concurrently - unless, of course, you have a clone!

Why can’t I code my text-based Challenges Event solutions in some other language than the ones listed?

We will only have volunteers prepared to judge challenge solutions in the languages listed. Good judges are hard to find!

Can I participate in both the Challenges Event and the Project Expo Event?

Yes! Honestly, that is what we are hoping you will do! 

Can I or my team enter more than one project at the Project Expo Event?

No, an individual or a team may only enter one project for the Project Expo Event, so make it a good one!

If there are more than one of us working as a team on a project for the Project Expo Event, do we all have to register?

Yes, all of the members of the team must register separately. We want to get to know each of you!

How many members can there be on a team for the Project Expo Event?

Teams can be made up of 1-3 members - close buds only!  

What happens if I register for the Project Expo Event, but I do not complete my project by the Saturday of the Hackathon?

It’s cool! Bring your project anyway! Prototypes and works-in-progress are acceptable. You will be given credit for your idea and your project’s design.

What if I only register for the Challenges Event or the My First Dojo Event. May I leave after my event?

We encourage you to hang around after lunch to see what other coders created for the Project Expo Event. Let’s see, actively engage in technology with us or passively play video games at home. Nine out of ten Hackathon participants agree...you should stay!

What time should I arrive?

You should plan on arriving as close to 9:00am EST as possible, especially if you register for the Challenges Event or the My First Dojo Event. You can never hang around too many coding types on a Saturday morning!

What if I only register for the Project Expo Event, and not the Challenges Event? What time should I arrive then?

The official setup time for the Project Expo Event is noon EST, but every Hackathon participant will receive a  “passport” on which they can collect an indicator of visits to Project Expo projects. Hmm, sounds like the making of a special award category - most Project Expo project visits!

Will you provide food?

Nah. Okay, just kidding! Morning snacks, lunch, and afternoon snacks will be provided for all coders and their parents/caregivers.

Where should I park?

You may park on the south side of the building, but also on the nearby streets. However, if you are under the age of 16 and are driving, please do not park next to my car!

What if I have other questions?

Please contact the CoderDojo Indiana Coordinator at myron@techpointyouth.org. He knows everything...or he will make something up!