Artificial Intelligence is transforming every industry, and the next generation of innovators needs more than just theoretical knowledge—they need hands-on experience. NERDS 1.0, India's First AI Hackathon for Schools, is designed to help students develop practical AI skills, solve real-world problems, and present innovative solutions with confidence.
This unique innovation program combines structured learning, mentorship, teamwork, and competition to prepare students for the future of technology.
What is NERDS 1.0?
NERDS 1.0 is a school-level AI hackathon that takes students through a complete innovation journey—from learning the fundamentals of AI to building working prototypes and presenting them before an expert jury.
Rather than focusing only on coding, the program encourages participants to think creatively, solve meaningful problems, and develop practical AI-powered solutions.
Competition Timeline
The hackathon is organized into four phases:
Phase 1 – Registration
Schools register their teams for the competition.
Phase 2 – Orientation & AI Training
Participants attend an expert-led orientation followed by two months of structured learning covering AI, web development, programming, design thinking, and project development.
Phase 3 – Evaluation & Review
Teams participate in an online assessment that evaluates their AI knowledge, logical reasoning, and technical skills. The top-performing teams advance to the final round.
Phase 4 – Grand Finale
The shortlisted teams compete at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, where they solve a brand-new AI challenge announced on the event day and present their solutions to an expert jury.
Who Can Participate?
- Registration is open only through schools and educational institutions.
- Individual registrations are not permitted.
- Each institution may nominate up to two teams.
- Each team must consist of 2–4 students.
Registration Details
- Registration Deadline: 10 August 2026
- Participation Fee: Rs. 1000 per team
- The registration fee includes:
- Two months of AI training
- Access to the learning platform
- Participation in the Grand Finale (for shortlisted teams)
Two Months of Hands-on AI Learning
One of the biggest strengths of NERDS 1.0 is that it is not just a competition—it is also a structured learning program.
Participants receive:
- Individual login credentials for students and teachers
- Access to the Kokos Learning Workbench
- Interactive coding playgrounds
- Weekly live mentorship sessions
- Expert guidance from AI and robotics engineers
- Self-paced learning materials and practical exercises
10-Module Learning Curriculum
Students complete approximately 30 hours of project-based learning, with each module lasting around three hours.
The curriculum includes:
- HTML Essentials
- CSS Fundamentals
- Responsive Web Design
- AI Fundamentals
- JavaScript Fundamentals
- Programming Logic
- JavaScript & DOM
- Browser APIs & Computer Vision
- AI with JavaScript
- Project Development & Mock Challenge
By the end of the program, students will have built practical AI-enabled web applications and gained valuable experience in collaborative software development.
Evaluation Process
Teams are assessed through an online evaluation conducted by an expert panel.
The evaluation includes:
- AI knowledge
- Logical reasoning
- Technical aptitude
- Problem-solving ability
- Fair participation by every team member
Academic integrity is an important part of the competition. Any violation of the competition guidelines may result in disqualification.
Following the evaluation, the top 24 teams are selected for the Grand Finale.
Grand Finale
The final event takes place at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram.
Unlike traditional project exhibitions, finalists receive a new AI challenge on the event day. Teams work together to develop an innovative solution before presenting their prototype and approach to an expert jury.
This format tests creativity, adaptability, teamwork, technical ability, and presentation skills under real-world conditions.
Judging Criteria
Every team is evaluated equally across four major categories:
Innovation & Creativity
- Original ideas
- Meaningful real-world problems
- Creative use of AI
- Exploration of multiple solution approaches
Technical Excellence
- Functional working prototype
- Clean and organized code
- Appropriate use of AI technologies
- Well-documented implementation
Feasibility & Impact
- Practical solution
- Clear target audience
- Scalability
- Cost and ethical considerations
Problem-Solving Approach
- Clear presentation
- Strong communication
- Live demonstration
- Ability to answer judges' questions confidently
Why Students Should Participate
NERDS 1.0 offers much more than a traditional hackathon. Participants gain:
- Practical AI development experience
- Web development and programming skills
- Design thinking and innovation mindset
- Exposure to computer vision and modern AI tools
- Team collaboration experience
- Mentorship from industry experts
- Public speaking and presentation skills
- Real-world problem-solving experience
These are valuable skills that extend beyond the competition and prepare students for future academic and professional opportunities.
Why Schools Should Participate
Schools that participate in NERDS 1.0 provide their students with an opportunity to experience industry-relevant AI education through structured learning and competition.
The program helps institutions:
- Promote innovation among students
- Encourage STEM learning
- Build teamwork and leadership skills
- Introduce practical AI education
- Connect students with experienced AI mentors
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for leaving your comment. Your comment will appear here after moderated by the administrator. Only comments having proper names of the person with a genuine content will be considered for publishing.