Formal Report Proposal

To: Dr. Erika Paterson, English 301 Instructor

From: Emilyn Sim, English 301 Student

Date: February 22, 2023

Subject: Formal Report Proposal – Inclusivity in Hackathons: An Assessment
of Mentorship Strategies

Introduction:

Hackathons are events that bring together computer science students to work collaboratively on a project and develop a solution to a problem within a limited time. The goal is to not only produce innovative solutions but to create a space for students to gain valuable learning experience. While they have gained popularity in recent years, a barrier to participation can be lack of experience and lack of confidence, which can discourage novices from taking part. This also limits the learning opportunity for all participants to learn more diverse skill sets from students with experiences that differ from their own. This barrier to participation lessens the effectiveness of hackathons to act as a teaching tool, impacts the quality of solutions produced by participants, and reduces the number of participants.

Audience Description:

UBC Computer Science Department staff and organizers who are responsible for creating events for students.

Statement of Problem:

The challenge facing hackathons is that novice participants face barriers enrolling, and participants tend to form teams with peers whom they already know. Therefore, teams do not contain a wide range of knowledge as team members come from similar educational backgrounds. Additionally, more experienced individuals are more likely to participate, which limits the diversity of ideas and solutions developed. This lack of inclusivity can deter people from participating and hinder the creation of innovative solutions.

Proposed Solution:

An effective solution could be the creation of a hackathon based at UBC which considers the experience level of applicants. This solution involves pairing inexperienced participants with experienced mentors who can provide guidance throughout the hackathon, enabling them to contribute effectively. By adopting hackathons with assigned mentors and mentees, participants with varying levels of experience can partake in a more inclusive environment, fostering a more diverse range of ideas and solutions. This approach also presents an opportunity for mentorship, which can encourage community building among participants and inspire continued collaboration beyond the hackathon.

Scope

To assess how to most effectively implement a Hackathon which provide learning and growth to all participants, I plan to pursue these areas of inquiry:

1. What are the main reasons that individuals do not participate in hackathons, particularly those who lack experience?
2. How effective are current strategies for collaboration and forming new connections  in hackathons?
3. What are the potential benefits of implementing a mentorship program for hackathons, both for mentors and mentees?
4. How can organizers effectively identify individuals who would benefit from mentorship and match them with experienced mentors?
5. What are the potential challenges and limitations of implementing hackathons with assigned mentors and mentees?
6. Are there alternative or additional methods that would increase hackathon accessibility that could be implemented?

Methods

My primary data source will be a survey conducted with computer science students and graduates who have participated in hackathons. This survey will allow me to gather first-hand information about their experiences, including what they found to be the most challenging aspects, what they learned, and whether they felt that they were able to fully participate and contribute to the event. The survey will be distributed amongst computer science social media groups, thereby targeting the correct demographic. It will provide neutral questions around hackathon experiences thereby expanding understanding of the student experience.

Secondary sources will include publications on barriers to participation in career building events for novice computer science students.

My Qualifications

I have experience as an event planner, specifically generating events directed towards incoming university students. Therefore, I am familiar with barriers to social and educational participation for new students. Additionally, I have first-hand experience as a novice participant in hackathons providing me with the opportunity to identify nuance in these barriers for hackathon participants.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that a lack of experience is a significant barrier for many individuals seeking to participate in hackathons. The proposed solution of creating a hackathon with assigned mentors and mentees has the potential to increase diversity and inclusivity while providing valuable mentorship opportunities. By pairing inexperienced participants with experienced mentors, this approach can help to build a sense of community among participants and promote ongoing collaboration. With your approval, I will begin researching this solution.