Dear Colleague:
Welcome to Constructing Modern Knowledge 2024! We are thrilled you will be learning with us this July 9th – 12th!
We have lots of great surprises in store for you at CMK 2024. In case you have not seen the amazing guest speakers we assembled, point your browser to the Guest Speaker page.
Please consider the following information in preparation for Constructing Modern Knowledge.
1) The CMK Daily Schedule (this is flexible and is subject to change)
Constructing Modern Knowledge 2024 begins at 9 AM on July 9th at the Doubletree by Hilton Downtown Manchester Hotel, 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH.
Registration begins at 8:30 AM in the Doubletree Expo Center Lobby. This is above the parking garage. If you enter the hotel lobby, it is to the left of the front desk, past the restaurant.
PLEASE DO NOT COME EARLY. We will be working until the last minute to make the magic happen.
CMK 2024 ends at 4:00 PM on Friday, July 12th. The institute culminates with project sharing and reflection activities. We understand if you need to leave early to catch flights, but the entire experience is worthwhile. The Manchester Airport is 15 minutes from CMK and you may arrive and 45–60 minutes prior to your flight.
Monday July 8 – Optional Workshops
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Pre-institute Workshops ”Introduction to Learning with Electronics” or “Creative Computing and AI” — additional registration required. See information about these workshops here. If you would like to register for either of these workshops, email Sylvia Martinez.
Tuesday July 9th
8:30 AM Registration
9:00 AM Welcome and project instigation
11:00 AM Project development commences
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Project work continues
5:30 PM Reflection circles
7:30 PM Institute dinner at Gaucho’s Restaurant
Wednesday July 10
9:00 AM Morning meeting
9:15 AM Project work continues
TIME TBD – Guest speaker: Stephen Wolfram
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Project work continues
5–5:30 PM Reflection circles
6:35 PM Minor League Baseball Game (lobby meetup at 6PM for tickets and walk)
Thursday July 11
9:00 AM Morning meeting
9:15 AM Project work continues
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Project work continues
2:00 PM Guest speakers: Tricia Tunstall and Melissa Walker
3:15 – 5:00 PM Project work continues
5–5:30 PM Reflection circles
7:00 PM – Midnight Project Pajama Party
Friday July 12
9:00 AM Fireside chat: TBD
10:00 – 12PM Project polishing
Noon – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Project sharing
3:00 PM Wrap-up discussion, reflection
4:00 PM Farewell to all!
2) Feel Free to Bring New Technology or Materials You’re Interested in Working With
We’ll have a large library of hardware, software, toys, craft supplies, books and more, but we can’t anticipate every interest or need. So, if you have been dying to explore something new, CMK will provide the time and supportive space for doing so.
Don’t forget to pack power cords, memory cards, and cameras.
3) Bring a Laptop with Administrative Privileges
It is impossible to predict the nature of the projects created at CMK and we do our best to fill the learning environment with many cutting-edge tech tools and materials. As a result, you may need to install indeterminate software in order to support your projects,
A major aspect of CMK is learning what you need to solve personally meaningful problems. This makes it critical for you to have control over your laptop.
If this is impossible, there will be plenty of other attendees with computers you might be able to share. However, having a computer that can support a multitude of learning adventures will enhance your experience.
A tablet is typically not able to run the software applications or connect to microcontrollers and other devices that will be available at CMK. They can be a handy second device for research.
4) Dress Code / Weather
The dress code is casual, but you might wish to dress smart casual for the Gala Institute dinner. Manchester weather in the summer can be hot, and may have a few surprise thunderstorms. The venue is air-conditioned, so a light jacket is never a bad idea.
5) Meals
Manchester has dozens of terrific restaurants of all ethnicities and price points within walking distance of the CMK venue. The hotel also offers a casual tavern with food, and there is a small coffee stand near the CMK work area.
Make friends and go to lunch or dinner on your own. Lunchtime is flexible, but typically between noon and 1 PM. You just want to make sure to be back in time for guest speakers or to work on your projects.
Included meals at Social Events:
- The Gala Institute Dinner (Tuesday evening) – The Gala Institute dinner will be Tuesday 7:30PM at Gaucho’s Restaurant, about 1/2 mile level walk from the hotel. Gaucho’s Churrascaria is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian churrascaria with unlimited meat on swords and a huge salad bar! Cash bar. (Dietary needs will be catered for.) (The hotel shuttle is available on request and subject to availability.)
- Minor League Baseball (Wednesday evening) – The baseball game is two blocks away from the CMK venue. The home team Fishercats are playing the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Your ticket is included and includes a hot dog and drink.
- The Project Pajama Party (Thursday evening) – The Project Pajama Party will be Thursday 7PM-midnight at the Doubletree for a late night hang and chance to finish up projects. Pub food + cash bar.
If you would like to add additional guests to either of these events and didn’t do that when you registered, email Sylvia Martinez.
6) Hotel information & Parking
Manchester gets busy in the summer, so we hope you booked your accommodation. There may still be rooms at the CMK conference rate at the Doubletree by Hilton Downtown Manchester Hotel, site of Constructing Modern Knowledge. But there are other hotels and motels in Manchester within a short distance of the Downtown Hotel at other price points. See the CMK venue page for options.
There is information about the hotel shuttle, local airports, ground transportation options, and more on the CMK venue page.
The hotel has a huge parking garage and for those driving in we will offer discounted daily parking validation at CMK. For those staying at the hotel with a car, let them know you are with CMK when you check in and you have a car parked in the garage. The discounted parking rate will be added directly to your bill.
Hotel Address & Phone
700 Elm St, Manchester, NH 03101
7) The Schedule is Flexible
CMK is about learning, not compliance. In order to accommodate the schedules of our guest speakers and enhance the learning experience, this schedule may change. We will do our best to give fair warning.
8) Come Ready to Take Off Your Teacher Hat and Put On Your Learner Hat!
Please email if you have any additional questions.
See you in Manch Vegas!