Day by Day

It starts today! I’m so excited about what we’ll be doing this weekend and the ideas that will come out as we work together.

Don’t forget that parking is free and in the area in front of the School of Population Health at 261 Morrin Street, St Johns, Auckland. Here’s a map.

As you come into the building you’ll see some wide stairs – come up the stairs (or the lift to the left of the stairs) to the Atrium where you’ll see the hackathon reception desk to your left.

If you have an idea to pitch

• You only have 2 minutes of talking time so prepare well.
• If you want to use the projector, please load your slide/s (one slide should do it) before 5.30 pm.

If you want to join someone’s group after the idea pitching session

• Think about how you want to tell the group what skills, expertise, experience and point of view you want to bring to the group. It’ll be easier to join a group if you’re clear in what you say.
• The groups will form after the last idea has been pitched. The pitchers will spread out in the room – find the pitcher whose idea you like the most and offer to join their group, saying what you have to offer.

If you are a mentor

• Wear your badge all the time so that people can spot you.
• Think about how you’ll clearly indicate what your expertise is so the questions you get are ones you can answer.

Starting time tonight

• We start at 6.00 pm with some opening comments.
• The pitching session will start around 6.30 and go on until the last idea has been pitched.
• Then groups will form and people will get to know one another and start brainstorming.

Home time tonight

• Start packing up at 9.30 pm.
• The last person leaves the building at 10.00 pm when the building’s computer locks the doors.

The hackathon stories

I will be blogging about what we’re doing during the hackathon so be prepared to see your stories on my blog. Take a look at how the recent NHS Hack Day was blogged about, and how their teams and ideas were recorded on their blog.

What an amazing event this hackathon is going to be! At this point we don’t know who is going to pitch what ideas and who will form groups, but I’m confident that some creative, thoughtful, practical ideas will find a way to become useful products during the course of this weekend.

Looking forward to seeing you this evening!