FAQ's

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is the difference between a participant and a presenter?
Registered PARTICIPANTS are those students/adults who are attending the full day’s activities, including the opening speakers, the presenter sessions, lunch, and the other conference activities. Registered PRESENTERS are students that are able to do the same as participants. In addition, they are scheduled to present to others in one or more of the sessions during the day.

What is the benefit of being a presenter?
Simply to share what you know about a various technology with others, to get the experience of presenting in front of your peers and to add this experience to your resume. We encourage this by providing presenters with additional items, including a conference bag, certificate and a chance at winning great prizes. In the past the expensive prizes have been Mac Computers, Compaq Tablet PC and X-boxes. This year we will have Playstation 3 as the top prize for the presenters drawing. This prize drawing is only available to presenters, so consider being a presenter.

I'm not ready to register as a presenter. Can I just come as a participant?
This is great. Just register on-line (closes January 17, 2007) or download the registration form and fill it out (closes January 31, 2007). Submit the registration form and signed waivers with payment via phone, fax or mail listed on the form. You will receive a follow-up mailing with the final schedule in the mail. On the 10th of February go to Heartland Community College and check in at the Registered Participants/ Presenters table for your badge, shirt and bag of information.

I'd like to be a presenter, but I'm not sure what to expect. What do I do? We have presenters from all grade levels doing presentations from PowerPoint projects from school, to building Lego robotics, to making movies, and building computers, electronics, security issues, using software, handheld devices, even theater lighting with technology. The topics are so many; we're expecting the students to come up with great presentation ideas to make it valuable to what other students would like to see. register on-line (closes January 17, 2007) or download the same form to register by mail, fax or phone from the website (closes January 31, 2007), but fill in the presentation information including your presentation title, a short description, your email address, any equipment you would need or would be bringing with you, as well as a brief description of why others may find your presentation useful. Once your registration is received (completed registration form, signed waiver form, and payment), we'll be in contact with you via email and give you further information. SIT online registration deadline is January 17, 2007 - registration via the paper form is extended to January 31, 2007—so be sure and register early as seats are limited.

We'll make sure you have a classroom at Heartland to present in during one of the four 25 minute sessions during the day. The final schedule will be sent to you one week before the conference with your presentation listed. You will be able to come into Heartland the night before, February 9th, to set up your presentation if needed. The presentation rooms at Heartland are like a typical classroom, but with a built-in projection unit with a PC, VCR and DVD player connected, should you need them. Technicians will be on hand the night before and during the day to assist you should you have problems. Go to your scheduled room during the time of your presentation and a volunteer monitor will introduce you to begin your 25 minute presentation to the attendees.

May I present more than one topic?
Absolutely. We encourage you to share your technology knowledge with your peers. With 5 sessions during the day you will still have time to visit other presentations too.

May I present my topic at more than one session?
Absolutely. We encourage you to present your topic during more than one session. Don't worry, we'll make sure you get plenty of time to see other presentations too.

Do presenters need a sponsor?
We require that all presenters have adult sponsors. Sponsors are important for helping the student presenters organize their presentations, for additional support they might need during their presentation and for liability. However, sponsors do not give the presentation! If you would like to present and can’t find a sponsor please contact Deb Wylie at dkwylie@ilstu.edu or Kim Travers at Kim.Travers@heartland.edu

Do participants need a sponsor?
No. We do highly recommend sponsors for younger students and large groups of students registering as participants, but it is not required. This helps with security and emergencies.

Do adults/parents have to register and pay the fee?
For the safety of the students at this conference, we would like all attendees to register.  Adults/parents must register and pay the fee if they intend to attend all of the day’s events, including all the conference activities with their student/child, adult sessions and lunch. They will receive the same badges and information that student participants will receive, and may freely attend any sessions or activities. There will be conference sessions designed just for parents during the day while students are engaged in the conference events.

Does the conference have a special needs lunch?
Yes. This year the conference will be serving hot dogs with chips/pretzels. If you have a dietary restriction, please fill out the special needs area on your registration form. During lunch at the conference let a volunteer know you need a special lunch and they will assist you.

I’d like to be a volunteer, what do I need to do?
Want to volunteer at SIT? Complete the 2007 SIT Volunteer Form (.pdf  |  .doc) and mail it to the address on the form no later than January 17, 2007. Volunteers will be contacted after their form has been received with more information.

Last year, 75 volunteers worked in various capacities at the SIT Conference, greeting participants, directing students to their sessions, assisting with snack and lunch breaks, monitoring sessions, etc. While every year we have new volunteers, many of our volunteers come back year after year. The SIT Conference Committee and participants appreciate our great volunteers who offer their time and talents in support of technology education and opportunities for area youth.

I’d like to contribute to SIT, how can I do that?
You can contribute to SIT by:

• Contributing to the SIT Scholarship Fund:
  This fund provides students with financial hardships the opportunity to attend the SIT conference free of charge. Scholarships can be made in $18 increments, or in any amount as a general contribution.

• Contributing gifts-in-kind:
  The SIT Conference graciously accepts and appreciates contributions of technology equipment and software to our conference. Contributions of packaged software, tech gadgets, tech essentials (DVD-R, CD-R, memory sticks, etc.) are distributed as prizes to attendees at the close of the conference. Vendors can contact the SIT Director or SIT Facilitator for more information.

• Contributing Product Samples:
  The SIT Conference always provides each participant a conference day bag with samples, pens, small pads of paper and promotional items. Any items that you would like to contribute and promote your business are welcome!

• Contributing Used Computers/Hardware:
  Companies and Governmental Agencies who would like to contribute computers to the SIT conference may do so by contacting the SIT Director or Facilitator for more information. Sessions on computer hardware maintenance and installing drives, power supplies, etc. can be one of the avenues where used equipment is utilized during the conference. If you desire, any computer that you contribute can be designated to a participant who does not have a computer at their home. For more information, please contact the SIT Director or SIT Facilitator.
  
  Vendors who donate items will be acknowledged in 1) the SIT Conference website, 2) the conference day materials packet, and 3) within our conference final report.

What is Early Bird Registration?
Participants, Presenters and Sponsors who submit their completed SIT registration* to ISU Conference Services by January 10, 2007 are eligible to enter a drawing for a special door prize. So register early to enter the drawing, and also to secure your spot at SIT!
*Registration consists of completed registration form, signed waivers and full payment.