Pre-registration ends on October 31, 2003. After that time conference fees will be billed at $300/day. 

Registration is on a first-come, first served basis. Walk-in registrants will be accepted only if the hotel capacity limit that day has not been reached. Walk in registrants must have cash, a check, or a purchase order number plus the correct billing address. Anyone who registers at the door must register at the walk-in rate of $300 per day. Please check the conference web site ahead of time to see if it is a sell out.

Is it possible to stay at the hotel?

If you would like to stay at the conference hotel, arrangements must be made directly with the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center. Call 800-582-3232 for reservations. Rooms usually fill quickly. 

There are also many other wonderful accommodations in Sturbridge and more can be found at this Sturbridge, Ma  web site.
 

Can I obtain Professional Development Points  (PDP’s) for attending the conference?

The Massachusetts Department of Education has ruled that PDP Providers (MassCUE) may award certificates of attendance but may not award PDPs for attendance at professional conferences. In order for a course to qualify for PDPs, it would have to involve a minimum of 10 hours of instruction, and there would have to be an exam or a written project/product at the end. Districts may use the certificates of attendance to combine with other hours and follow-up activities at the district level to award PDPs. 

What is the Pathfinder Award's Ceremony?

The Pathfinder Awards honor Massachusetts educators and leaders who have demonstrated leadership in their ability to find an effective pathway for planning and integrating the uses of technologies in education. Join us in presenting this unique award to educators who have made significant contributions by meeting the challenges presented in the changing field of technology.

A candidate for this award may be one who: facilitates the integration of technology into the classroom, implements effective training and staff development, effectively leads in a business/school partnership program, effectively expands the role of technology in the curriculum, effectively plans and/or meets his/her institution's technological needs, documents and models successful examples of implementation, provides ongoing support and maintenance of technology, serves as a leader of his/her local technology planning committee, and/or develops, assists, and/or maintains an educationally related publication.

All conference attendees are welcome at the Pathfinder Awards Reception, which includes a dinner buffet & cash bar, but you should sign up for the reception when registering.

How can I join MassCUE?

You can become a member of MassCUE, a grass-roots organization of computer using educators in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, by sending your MassCUE Membership Form and the annual membership fee of $ 35.00 to the following address: 

Massachusetts Computer Using Educators
P.O. Box 812188 
Wellesley, MA 02482

Note: Full-time students can join MassCUE at the reduced rate of $ 25.00. Student ID number will need to be included with registration.

If you have any membership question, you may e-mail MassCUE at masscue@masscue.org or call 781-235-5332. Please leave your name, your question, and your telephone number. If possible, please leave an evening telephone number.

What if I have an Emergency?

If someone needs to reach you in the event of an emergency they can call the desk of the hotel (508-347-7393), and the hotel staff will arrange to have you paged in the presentation rooms of the conference.   

Other Concerns….

Room overcrowding has been an issue in the past at some presentations; since MassCUE staff cannot always accurately anticipate conference attendance, nor do all presenters wish to work with large crowds. Here are some "Helpful Hints" that might help you deal with overcrowding this year. 

Get there early: One of the great things about conferences is the opportunity for teachers, library media specialists and administrators to catch-up  with  fellow professionals that they might not see otherwise.  But remember, if the presentation you plan on attending  is crowded, you need to make a priority of getting to that room early. 

Choose an alternative presentation ahead of time: There are approximately 10 sessions at any given time slot during the conference. It is wise to select alternative sessions in advance so that you can quickly move to another session if you are unable to arrive early enough to get seating at your first choice. MassCUE volunteers and hotel personnel must follow local fire regulations and will ask participants in overcrowded.

Car Pool:  Some of the participants who car pooled to last year's conference found there was more than one advantage to their driving together.  On the way to the conference, they had an opportunity to confer with each other on which of the presentations would best fill their professional development needs, and to plan out ways to "divide & conquer" the myriad of presentations & resources offered at the conference.  On the ride home, those who had seen presentations that other's had missed were able to share what they'd learned! 

Cancelled Workshops:

Workshops are not often cancelled at the conference, but sometimes a presenter cannot fulfill her commitment due to circumstances beyond his/her control.  Here are some "Helpful Hints" that might help you avoid the disappointment of finding your preferred presentation cancelled at the last minute. Check the conference web site for the latest updates.

Check the Conference Message Board or Conference Web Site:  There will be a message board set up near the registration area.  Check the board for any session cancellations or additions to the conference program. You will also find any cancellations within this sites announcement feature.

What if my answers are not here!

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please leave your name, telephone number, and question on the MassCUE answering machine (781-235-5332) or e-mail your questions to masscue@masscue.org