What is H4D? Hacking for Defense is a university course sponsored by the Department of Defense that teaches students to work with the Defense and Intelligence Communities to rapidly address the nation’s emerging threats and security challenges.

Educators Course Overview. The course is designed to provide H4D educators an overview of the H4D program — the course content, pedagogy, tools, and community — to ensure a successful program at your university.

When? The Educators Course will be held on Wednesday, June 15 through Friday, June 17. The first two days of the course will be full days, and the last day will be a half-day.

Where? The Educators Course will be hosted in-person, on the University of Cincinnati campus.

What to expect from the Educators Course.

Self-paced online pre-work. The self-paced online module is designed to provide baseline information on the H4D program and H4D methodology before entering into the three day in-person part of the course. (available May 16, 2022)

In-Person course.

H4D Educator Course Content, Pedagogy, and Tools. Overview, practical advice, and Q+A sessions on critical H4D topics.

Q&A Panels with former Educators, Sponsors, and Students. Opportunity to ask questions and learn from experienced members of the H4D community.

Beneficiary Discovery Exercise. Experience a day in the life of a H4D student team. The Beneficiary Discovery exercise is an opportunity to conduct beneficiary discovery on an H4D problem and master the H4D tools

Networking Events. Get to know colleagues in the H4D community during socials and networking time during the course.

FAQ

Who should attend the Educators Course? The Educators Course is intended for both potential and experienced H4D instructors and administrators, whether you are new to the H4D program, or you want to come back for a refresher.

Do I need to complete the online module before attending the Educators Course? Yes, we have designed the Educators Course to build on the knowledge you will gain from completing the online pre-work. Completing the online module ahead of time allows us to spend more time in conversation and doing activities during the in-person part of the course. Both components are required for certification.

How long will the self-paced online module take? The length of the pre-work will depend on the prior knowledge of the Hacking for Defense program and the H4D methodology, which draws from the Lean LaunchPad startup methodology. The online pre-work can be completed in as little as a few hours if desired. However, if you are new to the methodology, we recommend you take more time to explore new topics using provided suggested supplementary readings.

Is there a cost to attend the H4D Educators Course? No, there is no fee to attend the Educators Course, but participants are responsible for their own travel costs.

What are the COVID-19 protocols for the course? The COVID-19 protocols will follow the University of Cincinnati’s Campus Safety Measures. The H4D Program team will continue to evaluate the situation with COVID and release our official guidance closer to the event. You can read more about current UC guidance here: https://www.uc.edu/publichealth/campus-safety.html

Do you have recommendations for hotels? We recommend staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Cincinnati Uptown/University Area or The Graduate Cincinnati. More information about these hotels and a discounted room block ($159/night + tax) for the event will be sent out when you register, or you can email Jessica Knocklein (jknocklein@commonmission.us) for more information. Participants are responsible for the costs of travel and lodging.

Will there be a virtual attendance option? No, the event will be held entirely in-person on the University of Cincinnati campus.

Will meals be provided? Yes, breakfast and lunch will be provided on Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16, and breakfast will be provided on Friday, June 17.

Please Note: Upon registering for the course, the H4D Program Team will contact you with additional information and access to the online module.

More questions? Contact Jessica Knocklein (jknocklein@commonmission.us).

"Hacking for Defense has a model that engages students in a way many of them have not experienced in an academic setting. What I’ve learned from teaching the program is that regardless of the problem set, students learn how to deeply and richly engage with various stakeholders. They immerse themselves in a domain over the course of the semester and understand how fluid problems require deep insight and deeper questioning.

As an educator, it has been a joy to watch the students grow, and become increasingly confident in their skill sets. Learning how to work as a team, how to deeply engage in a domain, and how to present findings and handle critiques, are skills that we hope all new graduates will obtain over the course of the college careers. Hacking for Defense helps to deliver this outcome in a unique way."

- James Santa, DBA, Adjunct Faculty, Rochester Institute of Technology

Hacking for Defense® Educators Course - June 2022