NSU Lecturer Presented the Experience of a “Robotics” Hackathon at a Conference in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg became the meeting place for the finalists and winners of the Potanin Foundation scholarship competition. Associate professor Institute of Intelligent Robotics of Novosibirsk State University Maxim Emelyanov participated in the conference “Beyond the Standards,” which took place at the Higher School of Management of SPbGU and brought together leading professors and researchers from across the country. In addition to a rich educational and excursion program, including visits to ITMO University and the Sports Museum, the main event for the NSU representative was the specialized discussion on modern teaching methods.

As part of one of the conference tracks, Maksim Yemelyanov gave an expert assessment of the methodological technique “Hackathon.” In his presentation, he spoke about the transformation of this format: from a classic programming competition to a full-fledged project-based learning tool, where students go through the process from signing a virtual contract with the client to defending a working prototype.

The practical experience of the Institute of Intelligent Robotics at NSU aroused particular interest among the participants. At IIR, such a model of interaction with industrial partners is implemented already at the first-year stage, which allows students to develop technological adaptability and big data skills from the very beginning.

— Personal experience of participating in and winning hackathons helped me see this method from the inside. But the most valuable aspect of the conference was the interdisciplinary dialogue: the track brought together representatives from many different fields, which made the discussion comprehensive and multifaceted. We not only exchanged opinions around the round table, but also documented our developments in a collection of practical recommendations for teachers, — shared Maxim Emelyanov.

The organizers prepared not only a business program but also a cultural one for the participants. The guests got acquainted with the historical heritage of Petersburg, saw the city from the water, and attended events in honor of its 323rd anniversary. Maksim Emelyanov noted the high level of organization and the warm atmosphere, which turned colleagues from different cities into a real team. The impressions and knowledge gained are already being incorporated into the educational practice of the Novosibirsk State University teacher.