CMK 2024 Institute Frequently Asked Questions
Daily schedule
July 9 – 12, 2024
8:45 AM – 5 PM July 9, Tuesday + 7:30 PM Institute Dinner
9:00 AM – 5 PM July 10, Wednesday
9:00 AM – 5 PM July 11, Thursday + 7PM-midnight Project Pajama Party
9:00 AM – 4 PM July 12, Friday
Detailed information for CMK 2024 participants will be posted here and emailed in June.
Institute pricing and registration
Registration includes four days of the Institute, Gala Institute Dinner, and Project Pajama Party. Hotel costs are not included.
Registration can be made with credit card or check using our registration site. Credit card is preferred. Checks and POs are accepted – let us know what your plan is! There is a check option on the registration site, use that for checks or POs. Please make a note on the registration form that explains what you plan to do. Your help in getting the PO through your system is appreciated! Email Sylvia Martinez with any paperwork or questions.
If you need anything out of the ordinary for your school to complete the payment process, just let us know. We will do everything in our power to make it work!
An email confirmation and receipt will be sent to the email address you use to register. Additional information will also be sent to this email address so please use an address you check regularly. If you register and do not get a confirmation email immediately, contact Sylvia Martinez.
Cancellation fees apply. Since space is limited, there is a non-refundable deposit of $350 for cancellations prior to June 1st and a $600 charge for cancellations after June 1st. Registrations are transferable.
Pre-conference workshops
There are two optional day-long workshops available for CMK attendees on Monday, July 8, 2024. These events run concurrently, so even though they are both great, you will have to choose only one! They will both be held at the same venue as CMK.
- Creative Computation and AI – led by Gary Stager and Jaymes Dec
Participants will enjoy hands-on experiences to develop understanding of powerful computational concepts and AI use where learners are in the driver’s seat. We will explore a new wave of generative AI tools that expand the possibilities of creative expression with computer programming. This workshop welcomes programmers of all skill levels, from beginner to expert. - Introduction to Learning with Electronics – led by Tracy Rudzitis
A popular choice for first-time CMK participants where electronics and coding are demystified.
Learn more about these amazing opportunities. You will be able to add one of these workshops during the CMK registration process. You must be registered for CMK to participate in these workshops. If you already registered and want to add a pre-institute workshop, contact Sylvia Martinez.
Additional guests for social events
During registration, extra guests can be added to the Institute dinner and the Project Pajama Party. The Gala Institute Dinner will be Tuesday, July 8th and is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian churrascaria with a huge salad bar, $60 per guest. The Project Pajama Party will be at the CMK venue, $15 per guest. This includes snacks and a soft drink. You will be able to add guests after you register as well.
Should we send a team?
Teams attending CMK have a shared experience that informs and energizes the participants, resulting in expanded opportunities for change school-wide. Read how school administrators make the case for bringing a team to CMK.
Team discounts are available for teams of 5 or more. Please contact Sylvia Martinez for more information. We will handle the registrations and send a consolidated invoice.
If you are registering a smaller team, use the regular registration link and after you register one person, it will ask you if you want to register more without filling in all the same information again.
What if I’m by myself?
Many educators come to CMK on their own. CMK is structured for collegiality and collaboration, but without coercion. There will be many opportunities to meet and break bread with like-minded educators and have hard fun. Manchester is a small town with many restaurants and shops within walking distance of the CMK venue.
What if I’m a beginner maker or coder?
CMK welcomes educators of all levels of experience with technology. CMK is a unique model of professional development that honors the learner as the center of the learning experience. You will find new colleagues of all experience levels willing to share and collaborate. Our expert faculty will help guide you towards a fantastic experience that you will be able to take back to your school or organization.
What if I’m experienced with technology, what will I get out of CMK?
At CMK you will work on projects of your choice with colleagues who are going through the same things you are. We have many attendees who come back year after year because they need the time to think hard about what non-coercive learning looks like. We make sure that there is time for the speakers to spend with everyone, so imagine talking about the future of micro:bits with the CEO of the microbit Foundation, or talking about documentation with educators from Reggio Emilia.
Educators return to CMK (some up to nine times) because they find it to be an ever-changing experience that supports their professional learning goals like nothing else. After her fourth time at CMK, Kate Tabor said, “What makes CMK different is its grounding in the idea that we are adults, we are smart, we are learners, and we crave engaging our minds in some good, hard fun.” (You can read more about this in her blog post CMK and why I go back as often as possible.)
Finding funding for CMK
International participants
If you need wire transfer information or an invitation letter for a visa, please email Sylvia with the request.
CMK 2024 venue
CMK 2024 will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA.
Parking – if you drive to CMK, parking is available at the hotel. Guests who stay at the hotel will have a discounted parking rate applied to their bill. If you are driving in daily, CMK will validate daily parking tickets for a discount.
Please visit the Venue page for more information, and other close by hotel options.
Hotel options
See the venue/lodging page for hotel options and conference discounts.
What should I bring?
Bring a laptop and a charger. A tablet will not be sufficient by itself, but you have one, bring both! Tablets can be useful as a secondary device to look things up as you work with your primary computer. Please make sure that you have administrative access to your laptop, so that you can download and install software. Also make sure your USB port is functional and not restricted or disabled.
What should I wear?
CMK is a casual, but professional environment. We will be engaged in intensive project work so dress in comfortable clothes and shoes. The Institute dinner is business casual. Manchester New Hampshire is a typical New England town, meaning summers tend to be hot with occasional rain showers. The venue is air-conditioned, so a light jacket or sweater is always nice to have.
Where will I get lunch, and more importantly coffee?
The Doubletree has a cafe and bar for coffee, light snacks, and sandwiches. There is also a small snack bar located in the office tower connected to the hotel that has coffee and sandwiches. However, most CMK participants enjoy walking to the many restaurants that line the main street of Manchester, right outside the hotel entrance. There are many options to choose from.
Other questions?
Feel free to ask! Email Sylvia Martinez.