Built, Not Demoed: An AI Hackathon for Tools Real Schools Actually Use
Most AI hackathons end with a demo. This one starts with proof.
You’ll use two production tools already live in a real K–12 school as your starting reference points — a UDL Choice Board Generator and a general workflow automation system — to understand what “actually gets used” looks like in practice. Then you’ll build your own version, tailored to your school’s needs or your subject area: a choice board for your grade level, a workflow that solves a repetitive task on your campus, or a differentiation tool suited to your context.
Every build passes through a 3-question “will this actually get used?” filter: Does it reduce workload? Does it widen access for every learner? Would a colleague adopt it tomorrow? No polish, no fluff — just tools with a real adoption pathway, built for your own classroom or school, not someone else’s.
You’ll leave with a working resource tailored to your context, a reusable build checklist, and a model for running this exact hackathon with your own staff.
Facilitated By
Menaka Periyasamy
Digital Learning Integrator, American International School
Menaka Periyasamy is a Digital Learning Integrator at the American International School Chennai (AISC), where she builds AI-powered tools that are actually running in classrooms and offices — not just prototypes.
Her production systems include an AI-powered Learning Support Portal (LSS Hub) with role-based access, a Professional Learning Authorization workflow with SSO and budget tracking, and a UDL Choice Board Generator used by teachers to create differentiated learning boards in minutes.
With 13+ years across IB, Cambridge, and CBSE frameworks — as a classroom CS teacher, technical coordinator, and now digital learning strategist — she designs for one test: will a colleague actually use this tomorrow?
She holds Google Educator (Level 1 & 2), Gemini K-12 Educator, Claude AI Fluency, and Apple Teacher certifications, and leads teacher PD that turns AI curiosity into confident, everyday practice.
