Challenges
Make education hackable again!
Coming soon!
When your child is graduating after grade 6 or 9, parents often face the important task of advising them on which educational path to choose. In this challenge, we want to explore how data can be gathered to help parents save time and make informed decisions regarding their child's educational journey. Specifically, we want to focus on recommending vocational education paths in addition to academic ones and determine what data should be considered to simplify the decision-making process. We also want to investigate the role of location and transport availability as factors in this decision.
The value of this challenge extends beyond individual families. The education system faces the challenge of students choosing paths that do not align with their talents, leading to a loss of potential and even brain drain as talented individuals leave the country. By promoting quality choices and considering relevant factors, we aim to achieve better educational outcomes.
Here are some key aspects to consider for parents in helping their children choose a good school after primary education. These factors can serve as guidelines for your hackathon project:
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Research and gather information: Parents should conduct thorough research on different schools in their area. This includes exploring school websites, reading educational reviews, and engaging in conversations with other parents or community members. Gathering information about the curriculum, teaching methodologies, extracurricular activities, facilities, and academic performance of various schools is essential.
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Prioritize child's needs and interests: Each child is unique, so it's crucial for parents to consider their child's specific needs, interests, and learning style when selecting a school. Some children thrive in structured environments, while others may benefit from a more flexible or creative approach. Consider your child's strengths, weaknesses, passions, and any specific learning requirements they may have.
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Visit schools: Schedule visits to the shortlisted schools to experience the campus, classrooms, and overall environment firsthand. Observing teacher-student interactions, assessing facilities, and conversing with administrators can provide valuable insights. It's also important to involve the child in the visit to gauge their comfort level and see if they feel a connection to the school.
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Consider academic programs: Evaluate the curriculum and academic programs offered by the schools. Look for institutions that provide a well-rounded education, including a strong emphasis on core subjects such as math, science, language arts, and social studies. Additionally, consider if the school offers any specialized programs or extracurricular activities that align with your child's interests or future goals.
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Assess school culture and values: The school culture and values play a significant role in a child's overall development. Parents should assess whether the school fosters a positive and inclusive environment, promotes respect, tolerance, diversity, and encourages the development of social and emotional skills. Ensure that the school's values align with your family's values.
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Consider location and logistics: Evaluate the school's location and its proximity to your home or workplace. Consider commuting time, transportation options, and the impact it may have on your daily routine. Also, assess the availability of after-school programs, extracurricular activities, and any additional support services that may benefit your child's holistic development.
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Seek feedback from other parents and students: Engage in conversations with parents and students who currently attend or have previously attended the schools on your list. Their insights and experiences can provide valuable perspectives on the school's strengths, weaknesses, and overall reputation. Online forums, community groups, and social media platforms can serve as helpful resources to connect with other parents.
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Consider the financial aspect: Evaluate the cost of tuition and any associated fees or expenses. It's important to consider your financial situation and determine if the chosen school is affordable without compromising your family's stability. Look for available scholarships, financial aid programs, or tuition assistance options that might be offered
Who we are 🙌
The Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for education, science, sports, youth and state language policies in Latvia. We are here to foster a highly innovative, wealthy and integrated society in which everyone has equal opportunities for development.
However it also runs a number of projects to implement national approaches - some of them mean data gathering on the quality of the education, some prepare new programmes and standards in both children and adult education.
A major project deals with quality monitoring but so far has been focusing on supervisory institutions (Education Quality Service) needs to allow the state to spot issues that are actual.
However projects already have been carried out to prepare data for public use:
https://www.viis.gov.lv/monitoringa-riki
What we’ll provide ⚙️
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Mentorship
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Rinalds Gulbis can be available on Saturday 15.30 online
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Ilona Platonova can be available on Sunday after 15.00 on premises.
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Research project reports carried out for public service- in Latvian (you can use hugo.lv to get a decent translation into English)
https://www.izm.gov.lv/lv/monitoringa-sistemas-izveides-zinojumi
Some previous research data published, which may provide extra value to parents.
**A major project has generated data on how students are doing after graduation - salaries by programmes, subjects, owning of enterprises etc.
Data sets of public data open here:
*https://data.gov.lv/dati/lv/dataset/izglitojamo-skaits-profesionalas-izglitibas-programmas*
Private sector players also have data on student wellbeing:
https://skolas.emu.lv/ - emotional wellbeing
*https://edurio.lv/pasvaldibam*
- quality questionnaires
In final implementation SAP will be used on the same platform : currently we have published most of our visualizations in this format.
However the prototype can use any tool at your disposal, as we are looking for end user perspective, which then can be implemented.
Judging criteria 🔍
Implementation
Does it work? Can it be implemented? Can it be maintained?
0-10
Innovation
How innovative / creative / unique is the idea? Was there a novel approach applied to solve the problem?
0-10
Technical Excellence
Is the project technically impressive? How technically elegant is the solution?
0-10
Future Potential
Was it clear how the output could be taken forward in the future? Were ideas of future steps provided? Was it sheer fun, or did the idea show usefulness in the long term?
0-10
Presentation
How well the idea and prototype are communicated to the audience?
0-10
Prizes 🏆
Nintendo Switches provided by EPAM? Yeah right!