About


SIM Conference 2011: The Write Stuff

 

DO THIS BEFORE THE CONFERENCE

 

HOTEL AND TRAVEL INFORMATION

The 2011 International SIM Conference will be held in the elegant Oread Hotel on the edge of the University of Kansas campus. Blocks of rooms will be held for SIM conference participants at both the Oread Hotel and the Eldridge Hotel in downtown Lawrence. Rooms will be released to the public on June 11, 2011.

Oread Hotel 6/29/11 UPDATE:  MORE ROOMS HAVE OPENED UP AT THE OREAD HOTEL
Phone reservation: 877.263.6347 or 785.843.1200
Click here for online reservations

Group name: SIM Conference 2011
Group Number: 417i450

Group Rate: $109

Eldridge Hotel CURRENTLY SOLD OUT, WILL POST UPDATED INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE

Phone reservation: 785.749.5011
Group Name: SIM Conference 2011

Online reservation: http://www.eldridgehotel.com
Group number: 417700
Group Name: SIM Conference

Group Rate $125

A shuttle will be available from the Eldridge to the Oread at 7:30 a.m. Return shuttle times vary each day. Please notify the front desk of your need for the shuttle the day before.

 

HALCYON HOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST
A short 4 block walk away from the Oread

SPRINGHILL SUITES

Group Rate: $92
Group Name: SIM
Group Code: SIM
Book online at marriott.com/lwcks
Enter the ffollowing in the “group code” section in the section “Speical Rates and Awards”:
Queen room code SIMSIMA
King room code  SIMSIMB
785-841-2700.

 

COORDINATE a carpool or INVITE a group to dine
Click here to locate others who might want to carpool to and from the airport or to form a group to go to a certain restaurant for lunch or dinner.   Although it asks you to log in or register, you do not need to do that to use the forum.  Just post as a guest.

 

HOW THE CONFERENCE WILL WORK

TUESDAY Conference Orientation: If you are attending the International SIM Conference for the first time or think you would benefit from an orientation session, please join us Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Hancock Room on the lobby level of the hotel for a short program.  Please let us know if you plan to attend by completing the SIM Conference Participant Information Questionnaire

WEDNESDAY: After the keynote address, there will be breakout sessions throughout the day focusing on specific topics.

THURSDAY: Thursday will begin with a salute to our 2011 SIM Award honorees.  Afterward, we will split into five “strands” for the rest of the morning. Strands will be repeated in the afternoon. These intense, half-day sessions allow you to think deeply about SIM, the needs of educators today, and your role in bringing about school change.

The strand format is a response to years of feedback asking for more time for a thorough study of topics important to SIM Professional Developers. 2011 strand topics and content were selected based on the changing nature of the work we do, especially as it relates to writing. Each will include activities as well as time for you to discuss implications with your colleagues and gain deeper understandings through shared perspectives. By the end of the day, you will have developed a solid understanding of the strand’s subject, and you will feel confident discussing related issues with others as you go about your professional development work.

We are offering the following strands this year:

  • Strengthening Your SIM Core
  • School Change and the CLC
  • Content Enhancement and Writing
  • Learning Strategies and Writing
  • Designing Professional Learning to Have an Unmistakable Impact

 

Descriptions of each strand will be posted as they become available.

FRIDAY: We will reserve time on Friday morning for small groups we call affinity groups to discuss topics of mutual interest. If you would like to reserve space in advance to hold an affinity group, please contact Mona Tipton (monatipton@ku.edu). Three  breakout sessions also are scheduled at that time.