///////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ ___ ___ ___ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/\ \ /\__\ /\ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/::\ \ /:/ / /::\ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/:/\:\ \ /:/ / /:/\ \ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/:/ \:\ \ /:/ / _\:\~\ \ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/:/__/_\:\__\ /:/__/ /\ \:\ \ \__\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\:\ /\ \/__/ \:\ \ \:\ \:\ \/__/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\:\ \:\__\ \:\ \ \:\ \:\__\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\:\/:/ / \:\ \ \:\/:/ /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\::/ / \:\__\ \::/ /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\/__/ \/__/ \/__/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ __ _ __ _ _ ___ __ __ _ ____ ____ /__ /\ |\/||_ (_ | |_ /\ |_)|\ | | |\ |/__ (_ / \/ | |_ | \_/ \_|/--\| ||_ __) |_|_/--\| \| \|_|_| \|\_| __)\_/\__|_|_ | | VERSION 3.0 ///////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Thanks Jˆrg Seyfferth for the ASCII art: http://www.network-science.de/ascii/ This FAQ is for the Games, Learning & Society Conference, which is being held July 12th - 13th. It will be held in Madison Wisconsin, at the Monona Terrace Convention center. http://www.glsconference.org ///////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ I Introduction A. Versions II. FAQ A. General Conference Questions B. Presenting at the Conference C. Accommodations and Transportation D. Registration E. About Madison III. Contact Information ///////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ SECTION I Introduction ---------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the FAQ for the Games, Learning & Society Conference! The conference is being held July 12th - 13th, 2007. Please consult the conference website at http://www.glsconference.org for general information, registration for the conference and proposal submissions. Questions not addressed in this FAQ should be sent to info@glsconference.org. A. Versions ---------------------------------------------------- 3.0 Revised for the 3.0 version of the conference 2.0 Revised for the 2.0 version of the conference. 1.1b Made corrections to the date of speaker notification. 1.1 Updated information about wireless internet access. 1.0b Question added for teachers seeking continuing education units. 1.0 Information errors were corrected. 0.9b Spelling errors have bene corrected throughout the document. 0.9 This version includes many more questions expanded into subcategories. 0.8 The original version was created by Dan Norton with basic questions but cool art. ///////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ SECTION II FAQ ---------------------------------------------------- Questions answered in this FAQ. A. General Conference Questions ---------------------------------------------------- 1. Q: What is the GLS Conference? A: The Games, Learning & Society Conference. From the Overview: The Games, Learning & Society Conference to be held July 12-13th, 2007 in Madison Wisconsin will explore issues of how videogames and digital media are impacting learning and society. Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Academic ADL Co-Lab, the GLS conference is designed to foster substantive discussion and collaboration among academics, designers, and educators interested in how videogames - commercial games and others - can enhance learning, culture, and education. Speakers, discussion groups, and interactive workshops and exhibits will focus on game design, game culture, and games' potential for learning and society more broadly. 2. Q: Where and when is the GLS Conference? A: The Conference will be held in the Monona Terrace Convention Center, in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, on July 12-13. Additionally, there will be an informal reception before the conference on July 11th at the Hilton and a dinner party in lovely downtown Madison on the first night of the conference, July 12th. 3. Q: How much does it cost? A: Early Registration (February 1, 2007 to May 31, 2007) rates for the conference are $295. Regular Registration (after May 31, 2007) rates are $395. Student and Teacher Early Registration (February 15, 2007 to May 31, 2007) rates for the conference are $195. Student and Teacher Regular Registration (after May 31, 2007) rates are $295 We had a waiting list for the conference last year, so early registration is strongly encouraged. 4. Q: How large/small is the GLS conference? A: We will cap attendance at 325, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees will consist of academic researchers, game designers/developers, and K-12 teachers. We have had a waiting list every year, so please register early! 5. Q: What is the dress code for the conference? A: Since the conference will be a mix of academics, designers, and teachers, dress will be casual/business casual. It might get chilly inside the Monona Terrace facility so it is recommended that you bring a light jacket or sweater. 6. Q: What if I have special needs requirements? Who should I contact? A: We are glad to make any arrangements as needed. Please contact us at info@glsconference.org and we will assign someone to help you get answers to your questions. 7. Q: Will wireless internet service be available inside the conference facility? A: Yes! You may purchase wireless internet service through a browser on the premises of Monona Terrace. 8. Q: When will the full conference program be available? A: Proposal acceptance notifications will be distributed on April 15, 2007. We will post the program at the time along with presentation abstracts and bios for each speaker. Ongoing updates after that will be posted as they are made. See the SPEAKERS tab on this website after April 15, 2007 for more information. 9. Q: What is the GLS Lounge? A: The GLS Lounge is our attempt to forgo the standard Exhibit Hall and do something a bit more interesting and engaging. We've taken one of the Ballrooms and carved it up into four main areas: Movie Room: The movie room provides a space for conference participants to view webcasts of selected sessions as they happen. A great place to see sessions that have filled up. Or just to multitask. Dorm Room: Take a load off in the dorm room,equipped with gaming consoles and computers, dorm fridge, used furniture, everything today's gameroom might provide except perhaps the smell. Fireside Chats: Informal sessions that enable informal discussion among smaller groups of attendees on specific topics of interest. Oftentimes at conferences, attendees have little chance to personally interact with key participants and/or colleagues with shared interests. Our goal of hosting fireside chats is to enable just such informal sociability. Chat 'n' Frag sessions: Hands-on gaming sessions with selected game researchers,designers, and/or players. These informal sessions give presenters a chance to engage attendees in their selected game (off-the-shelf titles or grassroots designed), providing activities or walk-thru's related to key questions and ideas chosen by the session host. 10. Q: How do I summon a Duke in Silithus? A: First you will need at least friendly reputation with the Cenarion Circle. At that point, collect three crests from summoned Elementals using the Twilight Cultist's sets that drop from the Twilight Cultists. You summon the elementals by donning the set and then using a lesser windstone (these are at each Twilight Camp). Once you have collected three crests, bring them and a Large Brilliant Shard to Aurel Goldleaf in the Cenarion Hold. Then you will have a Royal Signet. Finally, wear the signet along with another finished Cultist set, and activate a regular sized windstone at the camp. B. Presenting at the Conference ---------------------------------------------------- 1. Q: I am interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in the conference What do I need to do? A: The official Call for Proposals is now posted on the website. This year we have shifted to an online proposal submission system to simplify the process. For a list of session types and advanced information on submitting, see the SUBMISSIONS tab. 2. Q. I am presenting at the GLS conference. What technology will be available for me to use. A. Each session room at the GLS conference will be equipped with an LCD projector, screen, and audio support. Presenters are expected to bring their own laptops. Additional technology can be rented from the Monona Terrace but only at an additional expense to the presenters themselves. (see next question for more information). Equipment for the GLS Lounge will vary depending on the requests of the participants (again, see next question for more information). 3. Q: I have materials that I would like to send ahead to arrive the day before the conference begins. How do I do that? Will I be able to post handouts/materials online? A: Yes, contact us at info@glsconference.org with the request for distribution of materials and we will do whatever we can to post your materials both online via the conference website and to have them available for distribution they days of the event. 4. Q: What opportunities are available for sponsors? Who should I contact? A: We are currently looking for sponsors for the conference to help mitigate the registration costs for both teachers and students. If your organization is interested, please contact Sean Michael Dargan, GLS conference coordinator(e:gls@seanmichaeldargan.com, t:608-213- 9271). 5. Q: I'm signed up to be a Respondent and/or Chair? What do I need to do? A: Each session needs a chair or respondent to host/guide the session. Symposia have chairs, individual paper sessions have respondents. Both are expected to introduce the talks and the speakers, so it's a good idea to get there early and introduce yourself to the speakers. If you don't know who the speakers are, you might get online beforehand to match names with faces. Chairs are also responsible for moderating the Q&A after the session. You shouldn't have to do any real moderating -- although you should have a question or two ready if the audience is slow to ask questions. Respondents have a more active role in generating content for the session. Respondents' primary role is to pull together themes from the papers, and offer some ideas to start the discussion. The best discussants are able to help the audience see "the big picture". In theory, symposiums already cohere because they are being organized according to a theme and therefore don't need a discussant. C. Accommodations and Transportation ---------------------------------------------------- 1. Q: Will there be parking available at Monona Terrace? Do I need a car in Madison? A: If you are driving to Madison, there are 600 on-site parking spaces in a cashier-operated parking structure at Monona Terrace, accessible via East Wilson St. and the eastbound lanes of John Nolen Drive. Monona Terrace is also walking distance from nearly all downtown hotels, so a car will not likely be necessary while you're here. Parking can be difficult in Madison, especially downtown during the daytime, so conference participants are encouraged to use public transportation and/or leave their cars at their hotels during the day. Transportation will be provided by conference organizers to the Thursday night excursion. 2. Q: So that I can book my travel, what are the official start/end times for the conference? A: The conference program will begin at 9:00am Thursday morning (8:30 am for early check-in), July 12th, with a small informal reception the night before, Wednesday, July 11th at the Hilton. The conference will officially close on Friday evening, July 13th. at approximately 5:00 pm. 3. Q: When I called to reserve a room at the Hilton, I was told that it's full. Where should I stay? A: If the Hilton is full or you would like to stay somewhere else near the conference, we recommend the following hotels near the event. The Best Western Inn on the Park www.innonthepark.net is located just a few blocks away on the capitol square. The Madison Concourse Hotel www.concoursehotel.com is also on the capitol square, on the opposite side of the capitol building. The Edgewater Hotel www.luxehotels.com/index.cfm?PropID=192 is about a mile north of the conference facility, across the isthmus on the shore of Lake Mendota (and closer to the UW-Madison campus) but is still within walking distance from the event. The Doubletree Hotel http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MSNDTDT is also within walking distance and is located about a mile northwest of Monona Terrace just off bustling State Street and the UW-Madison campus. Madison also offers several top-notch bed & breakfast options, including the Hotel Ruby Marie www.rubymarie.com just down the hill from the capitolsquare and historic mansions Mansion Hill Inn (www.mansionhillinn.com) near campus.. D. Registration ---------------------------------------------------- 1. Q: I would like to register at the student rate. What is your definition of a student? A: To register at the student rate you will need to be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited academic institution. Proof of current student status may be requested by the conference organizers at any time. 2. Q: I would like to register at the teacher rate. What is your definition of a teacher? A: To register at the teacher rate you will need to be a practicing P-12 teacher. Proof of current teacher status may be requested by the conference organizers at any time. 3. Q: Can I register for just one day of the conference? A: We will not be offering one-day registration unfortunately, though you are still invited to participate in the event for one day at the full conference rate. 4. Q: What is your refund policy? A: If you cancel a registration before July 1st, 2007 a full refund minus a $50 handling fee will be given. No refunds can be given after July 1st. A substitute may be sent in place of the original registrant, but the individual participant or company/organization is responsible for coordinating and communicating this to the conference organizers. 5. Q: I wish to bring an extra guest(s) to the Thursday night dinner. Is this possible? A: Yes, additional guests may be brought for a fee of $55 each. You may request extra tickets when registering for the conference. If you have already registered, please contact info@glsconference.org with your additional requests. E. About Madison ---------------------------------------------------- 1. Q: What's the weather like in Madison in late June? A: Madison is generally gorgeous in the summertime, with daytime highs in the upper 70s-mid 80s, nighttime lows in the 50s-60s. Early June is typically rainy so be prepared for some precipitation, especially near the lake. Because of the range in temperatures, winds off the lake and variability of air conditioning, wearing layers and carrying an umbrella are your best bet. As we get closer to the conference, we'll put a link on the Web site for Madison forecasts. 2. Q: Where can I play games while I'm in Madison? A: There will be games available to play the GLS conference itself. 3. Q: I'm arriving a day (or more) early and/or leaving late. Any recommendations for what to do with my free time? A: There's lots to do, depending on your interests and whether you'll have a car. Within walking distance of the Hilton and Monona Terrace, every Saturday morning around the state capitol, there is a fabulous farmers' market, the biggest in the country, in a stunning setting. Even if you're not looking to buy a dozen ears of sweet corn, you'll have fun joining the thousands of Madisonians who walk counter-clockwise round the market. If you like architecture, be sure to visit the State Capitol. You'll enjoy shopping, dining, and people-watching on State Street, which connects the University campus and the capitol. At the Hilton and Monona Terrace, you'll be right on one of the best bike/jog/walk paths in the city, which curves around Lake Monona to a great park on the other side. You can even rent a bicycle at the bike shop on the corner of John Nolen Drive and Williamson streets, which are just northeast of Monona Terrace. If you wander down State Street toward the UW-Madison campus, be sure to make your way over to Lake Mendota, the larger of Madison's two major lakes. Once there, stop at the Memorial Union (the student union) to buy an ice cream cone (the famous ice cream is made on campus) or a beer (Gray's Rathskeller Ale is only available here) and sit on the terrace overlooking the lake at the back of the union; many nights during the summer, there's great live music (free) on the Union terrace. (Be warned: to buy a beer at the Union, you'll need to bring a student with you or purchase a guest pass.) You might want to take a stroll or jog or bike on the lakeshore path, which runs west for a couple miles from the Memorial Union. The Elvehjem Museum of Art on campus is well worth a visit. There are many public golf courses in the city--the most challenging is University Ridge. A short drive away from the University is the Henry Vilas Zoo,a small but attractive and varied zoo. Best of all, its free. At the west end of campus is the famous Frank-Lloyd-Wright designed Unitarian Meeting House, well worth a look and tour. And if you're a Wright fan, you'll want to visit his home, studio, and school at Taliesen, in Spring Green, Wisconsin, an hour west of Madison. If you'll have children with you who like water parks, an hour north of Madison is Wisconsin Dells, filled with more (outdoor and indoor) water parks than you can count, including one that's touted as the largest in the country, Noah's Ark. If you're looking for the truly bizarre, you might want to tour the House on the Rock, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, an hour west of Madison-- a madman's endless collection of things, from rare and beautiful to pure kitch. Just southwest of Madison, in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, is Cave of the Mounds. Devil's Lake State Park, in Baraboo, Wisconsin, 45 minutes north of Madison, features a beautiful lake, hiking trails, and striking cliffs (well, striking for the mountainless-Midwest). Also in Baraboo is the International Crane Foundation, a fascinating place to tour if you're interested in the restoration of endangered species. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an hour and a half east of Madison, offers great culture, history, dining, and neighborhoods. On the shore of Lake Michigan, the new addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is a stunning piece of architecture. For details about any of these places and many more, check out the Madison Visitors Bureau web site (www.visitmadison.com) or Wisconsin's office of tourism web site (www.travelwisconsin.com). SECTION III Contact Information ---------------------------------------------------- For general questions about GLS, please visit: www.glsconference.org contact: info@glsconference.org Hosts: The UW-Madison School of Education http://www.education.wisc.edu The Academic ADL Co-Laboratory http://www.academiccolab.org For questions or suggestions about the FAQ: info@glsconference.org