Getting Started - Students
Welcome to the To Code or to AI Code Hackathon 2026! This guide will help you get started and make the most of your participation.
🎯 What This Hackathon Is About
This isn't just another coding competition. You're participating in groundbreaking research that will shape how programming is taught in schools and universities worldwide.
Key Goals:
- Discover the Border: Help us understand what programming skills students must learn vs. what can be delegated to AI
- Real Impact: Your participation directly influences educational curricula globally
- Learn & Compete: Gain experience with AI-assisted development while competing for prizes
👥 Find Your Group
We have 6 different participant groups based on experience level. Choose the one that best describes you:
🌱 Blank Slate Coders
- You: No programming experience
- Your Journey: Discover AI-assisted development from scratch
- What You'll Learn: How AI can accelerate learning programming fundamentals
🔍 Code Curious
- You: Watched tutorials, maybe took a course, but never built anything real
- Your Journey: Bridge theory to AI-assisted practice
- What You'll Learn: How to turn knowledge into working applications with AI help
🛠️ Traditional Builders
- You: 1-3 years coding experience using traditional methods
- Your Journey: Compare traditional vs AI development approaches
- What You'll Learn: How AI can enhance your existing skills
🤖 AI Natives
- You: Started coding with AI tools from day one
- Your Journey: Demonstrate advanced AI collaboration techniques
- What You'll Learn: Pushing the boundaries of AI-assisted development
🎓 Hybrid Learners
- You: Experience with both traditional coding and AI tools
- Your Journey: Find the optimal balance between human and AI skills
- What You'll Learn: Best practices for hybrid development approaches
🏢 Industry Veterans
- You: Professional developers (3+ years experience)
- Your Journey: Share real-world AI integration insights
- What You'll Learn: How to effectively mentor others in AI adoption
🚀 Next Steps
- Take the Skill Assessment - Get personalized recommendations
- Learn About AI Tools - Familiarize yourself with the tools you'll use
- Register for the Hackathon - Secure your spot
- Join Our Community - Connect with other participants
💡 What Makes This Special
- Research Impact: Your work contributes to academic research
- Educational Value: Learn cutting-edge AI development techniques
- Career Benefits: Network with industry professionals and educators
- Prizes: Compete for valuable prizes and recognition
- Open Source: All research findings will be freely available
Ready to reshape the future of programming education? Let's get started! 🚀