AiCoach

πŸš€ Learning by Doing: The Hackathon Model

LIP #202
Jan 15, 2026

What If School Felt Like a Hackathon?

Instead of solving fake textbook problems, imagine learning by tackling real challenges with a team. That's what hackathons do!

How a hackathon works:

  • Starts Friday at 5pm, ends Sunday (36 hours total)
  • No pre-planned ideas allowed - everything starts fresh
  • Teams of 4 to 6 people
  • You must build a prototype, present it, and compete

Cornell University runs 8-12 hackathons per year on topics like health, hospitality, and more.

The first phase - the Honeymoon Phase - is full of energy and excitement. But this is also where teams waste time by not setting high enough standards early.

The magic of hackathons is simple: real problems, real teams, real results.

Was this lesson helpful?

Explore the Full Podcast

Go deeper by watching the full-length Leadership in Practice episode to see the entire discussion in action.

Watch episode

Tune in to our next live session!

LIP #281: Test Kitchen Thursday Thursday, June 04, 2026 at 11:00 AM EST