Hackathon/Lessons Learned
This page is a combination of feedback from a survey sent to participants and ideas from the organizers.
87% of the people that responded to the feedback survey stated that their overall experience with the hackathon was either positive or very positive. 0% of people responding had a negative or very negative hackathon experience.
Suggested changes for the next Wikimania Hackathon
- Organizers will do a better job of defining the scope and content of the event during registration.
- At the beginning of the hackathon project organizers should be given a chance to pitch their project. People with projects can get help and people looking for projects can find them. Organize either a separate session for this or include it as part of the hackathon introduction.
- (If possible) Bring spare computers for people who don't have their own or forget/loose theirs.
- Video recording of sessions
- The buddy system worked well for newcomers, others were happy that it was not required for everyone. Most people were not impacted at all by the buddy system. Newcomers who wanted a buddy were instructed to get in touch with event organizers who paired them with someone. People very rarely make their own buddy pairings and we had a larger number of "experienced people" who were willing to have a buddy than we had "new comers" who wanted a buddy. We ended up with 22 buddy pairs (44 people participating). We should re-examine the process, reasoning and method behind buddies and pairing before next year.
The best!:
- The showcase integrated with Wikimania was very well recived. We demoed 23 projects in 1 hour.
- Working environment was good and productivity was high. People appreciated the networking opportunities as well.
- 99/106 people considered the wifi to be "fair, good, or very good"
- Hacking room open throughout Wikimania was appreciated
The worst!:
- No video recording
- Need better security next time
- It was hard for some of the newcomers to find projects and people to work with
- A bunch of people registered for the event not realizing it was a tech-focused event and only realized the actual scope of the event at the hackathon. The wiki (event home page) clearly explained the event although this information was not linked at registration.
Background on Feedback Survey
- rfarrand, smazeland & janstee created the feedback survey
- The survey was first sent out on July 15th
- Participants received two reminders to fill out the survey (once on August 3rd and once on August 14)
- 111 out of the approximately 200 hackathon participants (about 55%) filled out the feedback survey
Successful (new) changes
- Numbering hacking tables in main room
- Showcase integrated with main event
- Hacking space throughout Wikimania main event. Couches, snacks and working tables. Hidden away from the main event was appreciated although hard to find.
- TV monitor with schedule and IRC channel at entrance of Hackathon
- Group photo
Failed ideas/Issues
- Hackathon three days instead of two. Two day hackathon with hacking space provided during wikimania seems to be enough.
- Registering in multiple locations and for different days of the hackathon. It was difficult for organizers to get a headcount.
- Scholarship recipients automatically signed up for the hackathon, there was not enough information about what the hackathon was in registration
- No successful pre-planned hackathon social event. (Although event organizers made a handshake deal with a local pub for discounted food which was a good save.)
Other organizational/logistics thoughts for next time
- Find a better method for mid event announcements. Projector? Whiteboard? Wikipage?
- Lightning Talk sessions
- List of projects that are being worked on associated with table number
- Schedule newbie sessions in advance so they can plan
- Power on top of or next to tables (so people don't need to crawl underneath tables)
Data
Including this hackathon, how many hackathons have you attended?
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
1 |
38 |
35% | |||
|
2 |
23 |
21% | |||
|
3 |
15 |
14% | |||
|
4 |
9 |
8% | |||
|
5 |
4 |
4% | |||
|
6 or more |
21 |
19% |
Total |
110 |
100% |
How would you describe your experience as a developer? (Choose the option that best describes your experience level)
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
No experience |
23 |
21% | |||
|
Novice |
15 |
14% | |||
|
Beginner |
18 |
16% | |||
|
Intermediate |
25 |
23% | |||
|
Advanced |
15 |
14% | |||
|
Expert |
15 |
14% |
Total |
111 |
100% |
Were you able to meet any new contributors interested in similar topics as you?
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Yes, a few |
66 |
59% | |||
|
No |
18 |
16% | |||
|
Yes, many |
27 |
24% |
Total |
111 |
100% |
How satisfied were you with the selection of sessions offered during the hackathon?
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Slightly |
9 |
8% | |||
|
Not at all |
2 |
2% | |||
|
Moderately |
34 |
31% | |||
|
Mostly |
51 |
46% | |||
|
Completely |
15 |
14% |
Total |
111 |
100% |
Did you request a buddy from the Hackathon organizing team?
Only people who identified is "intermediate", "advanced" or "expert" were asked this question
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Yes |
9 |
16% | |||
|
No |
35 |
63% | |||
|
Not applicable |
12 |
21% |
Total |
56 |
100% |
Did you offer to be a mentor to a buddy at this Hackathon?
Only people who identified is "intermediate", "advanced" or "expert" were asked this question
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Yes |
19 |
35% | |||
|
No |
25 |
45% | |||
|
Not applicable |
11 |
20% |
Total |
55 |
100% |
Did you choose your own buddy or did the Hackathon organizers assign one for you?
Only people who identified is "beginner" or "novice" were asked this question
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
I chose my own buddy |
9 |
36% | |||
|
I was assigned a buddy |
16 |
64% |
Total |
25 |
100% |
To what extent did the buddy system add value to your hackathon experience?
Only people who identified is "beginner" or "novice" were asked this question
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Not at all |
4 |
16% | |||
|
Slightly |
3 |
12% | |||
|
Moderately |
7 |
28% | |||
|
Mostly |
10 |
40% | |||
|
Completely |
1 |
4% |
Total |
25 |
100% |
Do you recommend we use the optional buddy system at the next hackathon?
Only people who identified is "beginner" or "novice" were asked this question
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Yes |
17 |
63% | |||
|
No |
0 |
0% | |||
|
Unsure |
6 |
22% | |||
|
No opinion |
4 |
15% |
Total |
27 |
100% |
How would you describe your overall experience at the Hackathon?
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Very Negative |
0 |
0% | |||
|
Negative |
0 |
0% | |||
|
Neither Negative nor Positive |
15 |
14% | |||
|
Positive |
62 |
56% | |||
|
Very Positive |
34 |
31% |
Total |
111 |
100% |
To what extent do you feel the Hackathon was worth your time spent?
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Unsure |
4 |
4% | |||
|
Very much |
34 |
31% | |||
|
Mostly |
50 |
45% | |||
|
Somewhat |
17 |
15% | |||
|
Slightly |
5 |
5% | |||
|
Not at all |
1 |
1% |
Total |
111 |
100% |
Rate your hackathon
|
Question |
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Total Responses |
|
Overall experience |
0 |
2 |
10 |
52 |
43 |
107 |
|
Venue |
0 |
2 |
6 |
43 |
55 |
106 |
|
Food |
1 |
1 |
8 |
45 |
50 |
105 |
|
WiFi |
1 |
6 |
28 |
41 |
30 |
106 |
|
Help Desk |
0 |
3 |
13 |
41 |
40 |
97 |
|
Hacking space |
0 |
2 |
12 |
50 |
41 |
105 |
Would you want to attend the Hackathon if it was not connected with Wikimania?
|
Answer |
Response |
% | |||
|
Yes, no matter where it is held |
39 |
36% | |||
|
Yes, if it were close to my home |
26 |
24% | |||
|
No |
18 |
17% | |||
|
Unsure |
26 |
24% |
Total |
109 |
100% |