Being a Volunteer for VRA Hackathon

On 7 October 2017, I had made some great achievement which is being volunteer for an event for the first time in my life. I had never try being any volunteer for any event before. At first, I am actually the one who was chosen to join the hackathon but our class are really having tons of stuff to do like assignments and final exam is coming soon. After few discussion with the lecturers, we are given to choice to join any thing we want. I actually did not refuse to join the hackathon if we are given enough time or this hackathon event is organize on the period that we are not that busy. Unfortunately, the date is fixed and our VR3 assignment progress still more to go. So, i couldn't afford to spent two whole day for the hackathon and i join the volunteer instead. Before going to the event, i actually had no idea what is that and i never heard of hackathon before. I was expecting this is a big event which has around 500-800 people participating and a lots of volunteers are helping. However, it wasn't same as what i expected. It was just a small event which have approximately around 100 participants and the volunteer is just us. All of the volunteers are my classmate and that's it. Yet, it doesn't really matter as it is just different from what i expected. 

(A) 4 elements of Experiential Learning : 

1. Concrete experience 
The overall volunteer experience is great and this is a whole new experience in my life. The organizers is very friendly and funny. I had learnt quite few a lot of things of being a volunteer.   

2. Reflective Observation 
I actually kinda surprised and paid my respect to our classmate who participate in the hackathon. We were so busy at that period and they still able to challenge themselves to participate in the hackathon. From what i observe, i realized the hackathon requires teamwork and proper communication between each other in the group to achieve their target. I learned this experience as a observer so that i am able to perform well in the future if i have any chance to participate in similar event. 

3. Abstract Conceptualization 
The result that i gained based on my observation would be teamwork and sacrifices is needed to achieve success of a project. The definition of success might be different for everyone but the success i mentioned here are referring to the ability to achieve completion of a project. This theory are applicable to any parties in the event including the organizer, volunteers and the participants. The organizer would need their crews work together and sacrifice to achieve the completion of this VRA Hackathon event. 

4.Active Experimentation 
By applying the theory i mentioned above, target can be achieved. The decision can be made if there is multiple opinions exist in a group. With teamwork and sacrifices, they are able to work towards a target by not only insisted on their own ideas but finding a solution which is the best for their group.

(B). The event is held in MCMC, Cyberjaya. MCMC has their own compound which actually kinda suit for organizing events such as this VRA Hackathon which is not quite a big event. In terms of space and form, the interior design of MCMC is similar to a standard class hotel.The lobby is located right in front of the main entrance and participants shall proceed to the right for registration and the left from the lobby would be there workplace for them to develop their project. I was assigned to help with the registration which is located just in front right to the lobby. It was spacious enough for us to work with the registration and there was sufficient supply of lighting. Thus, we did not have any difficulties while doing the registration work. There was no any distinctive sound from the venue but only the sound that produce by us and the participants.

(C). The relation between my experience in VRA hackathon with content and context would be i am there as a volunteer and the main reason why i am there is for assignment purpose. Yet, i also gained extra values in the middle of the process. 

(D). Overall, i do enjoy this experience as a volunteer for this event. The most memorable thing i experience and had learned in this event is that sometimes we should approach to others instead of sitting a side waiting people to assist you. This is what i had experienced before the event starts. We have no direction where should we do or go when we reach there and the only way was to approach to the organizer and asked.  It was also a fun experience for me and i definitely will want to participate more in the future.

Lastly, i would like to attach a memorable photo as an ending. It was a group photo of all parties including all the participants, organizer and volunteers (Except the camera man).