“Hackathon Horizons”: Improving self-efficacy through scaffolded hackathons

Young people often struggle to communicate their strengths in short-term events like hackathons. Hackathon Horizons creates an intervention to help college undergraduates reflect on and discuss their strengths, set learning goals, and apply these in hackathons. Discussing strengths is crucial in this context as it enables participants to build confidence, enhance self-awareness, and leverage their unique skills effectively in a collaborative environment. By recognizing and articulating their strengths, students can contribute more meaningfully to their teams and projects. Hackathon Horizons enhances these immersive events by incorporating Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) principles—planning, monitoring, and reflection—to support novice participants. Setting learning goals is a fundamental aspect of SRL, guiding learners to focus their efforts, stay motivated, and measure their progress. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to ensure they are effective in promoting personal and professional growth. Using mixed methods, including surveys, interviews, and observations, I will test the impact of technology-facilitated scaffolding, digital passports, reflective practices, and tangible badges on participants' experiences. This comprehensive approach aims to understand how these tools can enhance self-efficacy, goal-setting, and networking, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and supportive hackathon experience.