Hackathon Facilitation
Innovation processes
in Education
The Greenhack Story
Hackathon Facilitation
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.”
Teacher at Turku University Teacher Training School
Elise Salonen
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 Finnish National Agency for
Education,
focusing on schools
across Finland.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A ‘Craftorship’ education
The International Entrepreneurship
Education Programme
From Idea to Prototype in Just 48 Hours
The Eduhack Series - The Makerhack Experience
Maker Culture
The Educraftory.Lab Experience at Turku
Teacher Training School
Uniting Technology, Education, and Sustainability:
The Impact and Insights
The "Hacking the 6th Wave" Project
The Evolution of Community and Creativity
at Hub Turku
The Journey of Hub Turku
Innovation Concepts
Catalyzing Innovation in Education Through Team
Learning and Design Thinking
Dreams 2 Reality
Educraftory.Inc Young Entrepreneur Programme
Do you have ideas for a project?
Searching for collaborative partners? Reach out to us!
Charting the Future of Adult Education
Ecosystem Synergies
The Expansion of the Digital Education Hackathon
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