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Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Conference FAQ

Re-imagining Feedback & Assessment in a Post-Pandemic World of Higher Education

pin-markerChicago, IL, USAcalendarAugust 1-4, 2021

In collaboration with the University of Louisville, Explorance is hosting the 8th annual Bluenotes GLOBAL Conference in Chicago, Illinois, USA, where leaders and practitioners in institutional effectiveness, institutional research, teaching and learning, technology, and faculty are coming together. Join your Bluenotes community colleagues to connect and share your experiences in using data and analytics to turn student feedback into student-centric impact on teaching and learning. Discuss your challenges, opportunities, solutions and lessons learned, to advance assessment and evaluation together, as re-imagining a  post-COVID future of Higher Education. Expand your network of like-minded peers, and sharpen your Blue skills and expertise for your professional development. Come a few days earlier to participate in a BAC, BEC or BRMC training camp and become a certified Blue Administrator, Blue Expert or Report Master.

Register today to reserve your place: you can pay later. You will not want to miss this! Early-bird discount and special bundle end April 30, 2021.

Register Here Today!

Frequently Asked Questions – BASIC INFORMATION

What is the Bluenotes GLOBAL Conference?

The Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Conference is the perfect place to meet, share, discuss, and learn about innovative solutions that Bluenotes community institutions in Higher Education are implementing to build the post-COVID future of teaching and learning experience with the use of student feedback. By attending, you will also benefit from the experience and expertise of other Bluenotes community colleagues for your professional development, and leave with an expanded network of like-minded peers in Higher Education who are passionate about feedback-informed continuous improvement and innovation for student learning and development.

What is the conference theme?

Re-imagining Feedback & Assessment in a Post-Pandemic World of Higher Education

When is the conference?

  • Sunday, August 1, 2021: Pre-conference Workshops, Community Meetups, and Change Leadership Roundtables
  • Monday, August 2 through Wednesday, August 4, 2021: Full Conference

Where is the conference?

The Palmer House Hotel by Hilton | 17 East Monroe Street | Chicago, Illinois, USA 60603 | Virtual participation is also available

What if I want to change my registration type from on-site participation to virtual participation? Can I change it?

Yes, we will take care of your change. Contact the Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Organizing Team (bng2021@explorance.com)

What if I want to change my registration type from virtual participation to on-site participation? Can I change it?

Yes, we will take care of your change. Contact the Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Organizing Team (bng2021@explorance.com)

How much does it cost?

  • Special Bundle: (ends April 30, 2021)
    • Bluenotes GLOBAL registration + Certification Camp (BRMC or BEC)
      • $3,800 per seat (35% discount)
      • $5,845 for two seats (50% discount)
      • $7,890 for three seats (55% discount)
      • Original price per seat: $5,845 USD ($895 conference registration & $4,950 for BEC/BRMC)
  • Early Bird: (ends April 30, 2021)
    • Single Attendee Registration: $599 USD
    • Group of 3 Registration [Buy 2 Get 1 Free]: $1,198 USD (instead of $1,797 USD) for 3 people
  • Regular: (ends July 16, 2021)
    • Single Attendee Registration: $895 USD
    • Group of 3 Registration [Buy 2 Get 1 Free]: $1,790 USD (instead of $2,685 USD) for 3 people
  • Faculty (Instructors & Professors): (ends July 16, 2021)
    • Single Attendee Registration $350 USD 
  • Student: (ends July 16, 2021)
    • Single Attendee Registration:  $50 USD
  • Virtual: (ends July 16, 2021)
    • Single Attendee Registration:  $450 USD

Are there discounts available?

Yes! There are an early-bird discount and special learning bundle discounts available until April 30, 2021, as well as a buy-2-get-1-free group rate. There are also discounted rates for both faculty and students.

What is included in my conference registration?

Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 conference attendance (excluding Virtual Attendee registration) includes pre-conference workshops, breakfast, lunch, and refreshments daily, a welcome cocktail reception, and social networking dinner. Registration for Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 also provides complimentary access to the MTMImpact Symposium 2021 sessions, immediately preceding the conference. Virtual (online) Registration includes virtual attendance to Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Conference sessions.

What is included in the Virtual (Online) participation option?

The Virtual (online) Attendee symposium registration includes online access to all Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 conference sessions, August 2-4, in real time.

Do I have to pay when I register?

  • Not necessarily. As our Bluenotes Community mentioned informed us of a typical academic budget cycle, we “untied” the registration and the payment timing.
    • Submitting your conference registration form and completing the registration fee payment are done separately. Once you submit your conference registration, your attendance and selected preferences will be reserved for you. A conference registration confirmation email will be sent to the email address indicated on your registration form with payment details.
    • You may complete your payment at any time by the end of July 31, 2021: We will honor the special bundle rate or the early bird rate, as long as your conference registration is made prior to the discount expiration date.
    • We strongly recommend completing your registration as early as possible to ensure your preferred choices are available and your place in various learning activities and social networking activities are reserved for you.
  • Payments may be completed, at any time by the end of July 31, 2021, online via credit card through the conference registration fee payment site or by contacting Stacey Martini, Community Engagement Manager>.

Who attends the Bluenotes GLOBAL conference?

The Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Conference will have sessions available for users of Blue product suites such as Blue, Bluepulse, DIG, BTA, and BlueX. The Bluenotes GLOBAL Conference is the unique place for “Feedback Matters” where various stakeholders in institutional research, institutional effectiveness, teaching and learning, IT, Faculty members and leaders come together to share, discuss, learn and problem-solve together how best use feedback in transforming teaching and learning and improving learning experience and student retention.

Why should I attend the Bluenotes GLOBAL conference?

  • By attending the Bluenotes GLOBAL conference, you will:
    • Share experiences, best practices, and research insights to learn from each other and innovate together, overcoming COVID-19 challenges
    • Network with your peers throughout the conference, formally and informally
    • Participate in various Bluenotes community meetups such as the Blue Experts Community, Health & Science, Business Schools, Research & Analytics, and regional Bluenotes Chapters
    • Speak directly with Explorance staff to ask, get answers, and influence Explorance’s vision and product directions
    • Learn about upcoming software releases and the product roadmap
    • Experience hands-on software use during pre-conference workshops and Explorance-staffed stations
    • Attend social events and dinners exclusive to the Bluenotes Community to continue learning and innovative problem solving together
    • Become a certified Blue Administrator, Blue Expert, or Blue Report Master by participating in either the BAC, BEC , or BRMC in-person training camp immediately preceding the conference.
    • Support local charities and have your chance to win incredible door prizes
    • And much more!

Is there a conference website?

Yes! www.bluenotesgroup.com/bluenotes-global-2021

Where can I register for Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021?

Visit www.bluenotesgroup.com/bluenotes-global-2021 and click the “Register” button to register along with your choices in pre-conference learning activities and social networking activities to continue your learning and professional development.

Frequently Asked Questions – Pre-conference Learning Activities

Are there any pre-conference learning activities?

Yes! There are 7 workshops (4 workshops for the beginner/intermediate level attendees and 3 workshops for advanced topics including one organized by the certified Blue Experts are planned), 4 Community Meetups, and 2 Architecting Change Leadership Roundtables. More details can be found on the Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 conference webpage.

When are the pre-conference learning activities?

Sunday, August 1, 2021; breakfast and lunch included. The conference opening cocktail is scheduled after the pre-conference learning activities.

Do the pre-conference learning activities cost extra?

The pre-conference activities do not require an additional fee however, space is limited so please register early.

Do I have to sign-up for the pre-conference learning activities?

You may opt-in to the pre-conference learning activities as you complete your conference registration form.

What are the Community Meetups?

A community meetup is a meeting where the members of a particular community of interest or practice get together to share, discuss their unique needs, and solve problems together. Currently, four community meetups are being planned – the Blue Experts community meetup, the Medical and Health Sciences community meetup, the Reporting and Analytics community meetup, and the Business Schools community meetup.

What is an Architecting Change Leadership (ACL) Roundtable?

An ACL (Architecting Change Leadership) Roundtable is a roundtable to discuss and problem-solve together organizational challenges that institutions are facing, as they implement technology-enabled feedback processes, for successful adoptions and use of the data. There are 2 ACL roundtables planned.

Frequently Asked Questions – Program Details

What are the conference tracks?

  • Faculty Engagement
  • Leadership and Analytics
  • Implementation Insights: Course Evaluations
  • Implementation Insights: General Feedback Processes (such as Surveys, 360, Formative Feedback)
  • Faculty Research-centric Track

I would like to share my experiences. How do I submit a presentation proposal?

All details including suggested topics, presentation formats, deadlines, and process instructions for submitting your proposal, please visit the Call for Presentations webpage. We hope to ease your presentation proposal submission process, and look forward to working with you as needed to ensure that everyone who wishes to present has an opportunity to do so. For any question, please don’t hesitate to contact yjang@explorance.com.

Is the conference program available to review now?

The full program and agenda detailing the conference session topics and presenters, as well as social networking activities, will be posted on the Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Conference website as details are finalized. Please continue to check back regularly for updates.

Frequently Asked Questions – social events & networking

Are there any social events or networking opportunities?

  • There are two scheduled social events:
    • Welcome Reception: Sunday, August 1, 2021 | 6pm @ The Palmer Hotel
    • Social Networking Dinner: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | 6pm @ TBD

Is there a fee to attend the social events?

There is no additional cost to attend the social events. These social events are included in the conference registration fee (excluding the Virtual Attendee option) as a part of continuing to connect and expand professional development and learning.

Frequently Asked Questions – certification training camps

Are there any in-person certification training camps running in conjunction with the conference?

Yes! By popular request, in-person BAC, BEC, and BRMC camps are all being held immediately before the conference.

When are the certification training camps?

Where will the certification training camps be held?

For your convenience, the in-person training camps will also be held at the Palmer Hotel.

Do the certification camps cost extra?

Yes, additional fees may apply. Bundle and Save – the special bundle promotion (conference registration + BEC or BRMC Certification Camp registration)! Check out the Blue Certification Camps at the Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 page or consult with your Account Manager.

Are there discounts available?

  • Special Bundle: (ends April 30, 2021)
    • Bluenotes GLOBAL registration + Blue Expert Certification camp or Blue Report Master Certification camp
      • $3,800 per seat (35% discount)
      • $5,845 for two seats (50% discount)
      • $7,890 for three seats (55% discount)
      • Original price per seat: $5,845 USD ($895 conference registration & $4,950 for BEC/BRMC)

Frequently Asked Questions – travel & lodging

Is there a discounted group rate at the Palmer Hotel?

Yes! A special group discounted room rate of $175 per night is available the Palmer Hotel for all Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 attendees. his rate will be available for the nights of Sunday, July 25 through Sunday, August 8, 2021. This discounted rate ends on June 24, 2021, so please reserve early.

How do I reserve my stay?

To reserve your accommodations at the special hotel group rate, you may call the Palmer Hotel at 1-877-865-5321 referencing “Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021” or the code “EXP”. Alternatively, you may reserve your stay directly online via this Palmer House Reservation link created for the Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 attendees.

What transportation options do I have?

  • The Chicago O’Hare (ORD) International Airport is 17 miles from the hotel. Drive time is around 35-60 minutes and typical taxi fare is around $40 USD. There is also the option of taking the subway (the CTA train, also called the “L”) from the airport at $5 USD with a travel time of 45 minutes to downtown. When taking public transportation from O’Hare International Airport, take the Blue Line train to Monroe/Dearborn stop. Take Monroe east to the hotel and the Palmer House is on the south side of the street.
  • The Chicago Midway (MDW) Airport is 11 miles from the hotel. Drive time is 30-40 minutes and typical taxi fare is around $40 USD. There is also the option of taking the subway (the CTA train, also called the “L”) from the airport at $2.50 USD with a travel time of 25 minutes to downtown. From Midway Airport, take the Orange Line to downtown, exiting at the Adams/Wabash stop. The Palmer House is located on the west side of Wabash Avenue.

Frequently Asked Questions – Other Inquiries

I did not find my answer in the FAQ – what should I do?

For any questions or other information required, please contact: Stacey Martini, our community engagement manager in the Bluenotes GLOBAL 2021 Organizing Team.

Note: Register now and reserve your place. You can pay later, as the submission of your conference registration form and the payment of the conference registration fee are handled separately.

  • Once you submit your conference registration, your attendance and selected preferences will be reserved for you. A conference registration confirmation email will be sent to the email address indicated on your registration form with payment details.
  • Payments may be completed online via credit card here or by contacting Stacey Martini directly.
  • You may complete your payment at any time prior to July 31, 2021. The early bird special rates will be honored to those who register before the early bird pricing ends.

We strongly recommend registering your attendance as soon as possible to ensure your preferred choices are available and your place is saved.