When should I arrive at the workshop?
We recommend arriving on August 21 and leaving on August 24 or 25. The conference runs 9am-5pm on both August 22-23, and we’ll be planning for the future (journal special issues, books, etc.) on the afternoon of August 23. We also strongly recommend you visit the MN State Fair on the 24th! (See the Hotel and Travel section for more detail).
Why is this a Workshop and not a Conference?
Although the meanings of these terms vary by person, a workshop can be considered a specific type of conference: on the smaller side, no more than 2 days, and entirely focused on a relatively narrow topic. Where a conference might be held on “assessment,” our workshop is more narrowly on “game-based assessment.” More practically speaking, the National Science Foundation wanted to fund a workshop, so that’s what we’re calling it!
What is a priority invitee?
Each presenter is allowed to invite one guest that can bypass the application process, and the conference organizers have invited a small set of additional attendees that can do the same. There are roughly 20 presenters, 30 priority attendees, and 25 graduate student slots, leaving approximately 50 seats for general registration.
Why is the workshop in Minnesota? What will the weather be like?
Although you probably hear mostly about our admittedly unpleasant winters, Minnesota summers are beautiful. At the end of August, expect sunny days with highs around 78F (26C) and lows around 61F (16C).
How does reimbursement work?
There are two processes for reimbursement. If you have a US tax ID (i.e., US citizens, permanent residents), the University of Minnesota will cut you a check as long as you have never before been an employee of the University of Minnesota, in which case you must be reimbursed through the employee reimbursement system. If you are international, the process is a bit more complicated and requires pre-registration with the University billing system before the conference. Please contact Richard (rlanders@umn.edu) if you are funded and international.
How did you choose the speakers?
Speakers were chosen based upon who the program committee believed would give high-quality, research-focused presentations on GBA across diverse perspectives. Please hold them accountable to this high standard!
Will there be wifi?
Wifi access throughout the workshop and in hotel rooms will be provided free of charge.
What is the dress code?
Business casual or thereabouts. We’re not picky!
How does this workshop approach diversity and inclusion?
It is our goal for everyone to feel welcome, included, and safe at all times during this conference, and we embrace diversity in all forms, including race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation, among others. We will endeavor to do what we can before, during, and after the conference to ensure our goal is achieved. In the application/registration process, we collect several pieces of information, like dietary and mobility restrictions, to help us achieve this during the conference itself. Although we respect free speech and academic freedoms, we also have zero tolerance for hate speech.
What if I have other questions?
Please contact either the on-the-ground conference coordinator, PhD student Sebastian Marin (marin343@umn.edu) or the PI of the project’s sponsoring NSF grant, Richard Landers (rlanders@umn.edu).