Florida State University’s Innovation Hub has recently hosted a series of events aimed at encouraging student creativity and problem-solving. The activities included hackathons, design sprints, and game jams, all designed to provide hands-on learning experiences.
“These recent events are intensive problem-solving exercises that emphasize self-directed learning with expert guidance in a condensed timeframe,” said Ken Baldauf, founding director of the Innovation Hub. “We’ve seen firsthand how transformative these experiences are for everyone involved. Through ongoing research, we’ll better understand their long-term benefits and use those findings to shape innovative educational models.”
One notable event was the Next100 Hackathon, held in partnership with NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light. During this event, students worked in teams to find ways to protect the power grid from cyberattacks and natural disasters. After receiving briefings from industry experts, participants developed solutions under the guidance of mentors from both organizations.
Aakanksha Pathak, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences who took part in the hackathon, said: “The hackathon was an amazing and eye-opening experience. I not only learned a lot about cybersecurity and how technology can protect critical systems, but also how people’s behavior plays such a big role in security. Working alongside so many creative minds taught me that innovation isn’t just about coding — it’s about collaboration, communication and understanding the human side of technology.”
The winning team created Nextguard AI—an artificial intelligence system designed to predict and neutralize threats across IT and OT networks before they escalate. Team members included Dakota Turner (Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering), Aakanksha Pathak (Computer Science), and Farhana Taiyebah (Scientific Computing).
“Seeing our final project come to life made me so proud,” Turner said. “It showed me that I belong here, that I have a voice and something real to contribute. This was the push I needed to confirm I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Farhana Taiyebah added: “This was an incredible opportunity to innovate and design solutions with real impact. Competing alongside brilliant minds and seeing our idea recognized was truly inspiring. We’re grateful to the FSU Innovation Hub and NextEra Energy for fostering a space where imagination and purpose intersect.”
Earlier in October, another event—the DevilUp Horror Jam—was organized by FSU’s student-led Devl’up group at the Immersive Media Lab within the Innovation Hub. Teams spent 48 hours developing horror-themed video games.
Jackson Anderson, assistant director of Immersive Media Design at the Innovation Hub explained: “Game Jams are a beautiful capsule for students where they take control of their learning. As a team they negotiate and confront what problems to solve, how to solve them, and hold each other responsible at each step of the way.”
FSU teams performed strongly during this competition; three placed among the top five entries overall. The game Radio Six—a survival horror set in a hospital basement—won second place overall as well as first place for scariest game.
Bret Staudt Willet, Assistant Professor of Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies at FSU is researching these hands-on events’ broader educational effects within the Innovation Hub context.
“The processes that occur during intensive events like Design Sprints and Game Jams are a microcosm of learning and making in everyday life,” Willet said. “All the work of understanding your goals, figuring out how to get there, finding the resources you need, and knowing when you’re done — it’s full self-directed learning played out on a very short timeline. By studying what participants do in the Innovation Hub we have a window into how learning works more generally.”
Looking ahead into early next year—with partners including Amazon/AWS—the Innovation Hub plans additional design sprints focused on engaging students through practical challenges intended both for skill development as well as highlighting innovative teaching methods.
“We’re excited to kick off a major Design Sprint with Amazon/AWS during the last weekend of January followed by another during Festival of Creative Arts in February—and third sponsored by College Business March,” Baldauf said.“Through these initiatives we hope spotlight innovative models engaging students thrill learning equip them with demand skills showcase why FSU stands out most innovative university.”
Further details about upcoming programs can be found at innovation.fsu.edu.
