What is an ideathon, you ask?
Good question! An ideathon is a short, intensive, workshop-like experience for students to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Participants work in teams and use design thinking and innovative learning practices to ideate and collaborate on possible solutions.
C21 + CoMotion Ideathons are primarily for undergraduate students from all disciplines. In fact, the best ideathons combine students from many majors – a biology student working together with a linguist, a drama student and a political science major. The wider cross-section of students involved, the more perspectives there are to come up with insights that are relevant and novel.
What are the benefits?
- Earn 1-2 academic credits
- Engage in an alternative, out of classroom experience
- Be mentored by leaders in education and industry
- Gain 21st century critical skills in collaboration and design thinking, complete with final presentation to judges comprised of industry and educational leaders
About our most recent ideathon
In January 2017, A&S and CoMotion teamed up to invite students to imagine how we can put innovation at the heart of the undergraduate experience. In what ways can Arts & Sciences students play a central role in the development of the Innovation District, and more generally, in inclusive innovation at the University of Washington? How can we help students realize their potential, not just to change the landscape of innovation at the University of Washington, but to change the world for the better?
Students worked in teams over 48 intensive hours, drawing on the expertise of innovation leaders from within and outside UW as mentors, panelists, and experts.
Stories about the Ideathon:
- CoMotion + C21 Ideathon video
- A student's perspective on LinkedIn
- Article about the April 2016 Ideathon
"Allowing students who have big ideas to come together and develop them with other students is a good way to make sure that those ideas reach society."