Preparing for the event

Prior to the event, students from varied academic levels and backgrounds individually and asynchronously reflect on the topic. Registration opens 2-3 weeks before to allow for reflection time.

Provided through the registration form and Preparation Workbook, students are encouraged to think critically about their relation to the topic they are solving and reflect on why the problem exists in the first place.

Students complete two steps in order to prepare:

1. Registration (approximately 15 minutes):

This is where they will indicate whether they are registering as a solo participant or with a pre-formed team.

2. Preparation Workbook (approximately 1 hour):

Allows participants to reflect critically on the issue and their connection to it.

Our facilitators ensure the skills of each team are similar. For example, if your project requires coding, you'll have at least one coder in your group. Groups are formed with 4-5 members and intentionally mix pre-formed friendships with new connections to keep collaboration fresh and balanced.

Additionally, you'll want to plan for potential no-shows and reassign students to another group. If matching friends, try to pair them with strangers so the dynamics of their friendship do not disrupt collaboration.