Is this your first InstCon? Here are some tips from the OGs!

[BethCrook]

I don't know about you, but I CANNOT wait to get back to an in-person InstructureCon and see my people!! And there are so many new users since 2019, so I think it's only fair to give you some tips on how to plan and what to expect from my friends.

I'll get us started:

• Say hello to everyone! Strike up a conversation!
• Come hang out in the Community booth!  It's the place to meet everyone.
• Hack Night.  They provide the hackers. You provide the ideas. Brilliant!
• Log in to your Agenda and save your favorite sessions for some amazing learning!
• Unconference! The perfect way to end the conference!
• Traveling solo?  Use #solopanda to meetup for a meal, hang out, go explore.

[andrea_earl]

Thanks for the tips. I’m so excited to attend my 1st in-person InstCon but I’ll be a #solopanda - so let’s connect.  

[BethCrook]

I'll be a #solopanda too! Have been since 2015 🥰

[DaGIFT222]

shout out to #solopandas

GIFT

[mjennings]

This will be my first time not a #solopanda since 2014 in Park City! I have three others coming to the conference. I can't wait for them to experience the best ed-tech conference in the world!!

[ShellyRuff]

My first InstCon too!! Can't wait for all the fun, and to meet so many amazing Advocates and customers!

[jessica_gutierr]

This is my first InstaCon too! This is the week of New Teacher orientation for our district so I will be #solopanda! Seems like quite a few of us solopanda's

[chriscas]

How about a hashtag for those of us traveling with only one other colleague?  I'll throw myself out here as a #duopanda this year!  I've been to every InsrtuctureCon (in-person and virtual) since 2014.  Looking forward to seeing old friends in-person again this year for the first time since Long Beach.

I know Denver isn't quite as high as Park City or Keystone were, but another common tip when at higher altitudes it to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

-Chris

[Sylvia_Ami]

@chriscas I met you at InstructureCon in Long Beach last year. I bet you have even more amazing ideas in your brain this year.

[BradMoser]

I can't wait to be back in person! While I missed the Park City InstCon, I began my attendance in Keystone 2017. Oh, what fun-filled learning and tons of swag. I find it especially helpful if you have some specific questions that you'd love to ask those school leaders about their approach and solutions to similar problems. One time, I was especially looking for new ways to present PD sessions. I recall a poster session about leveling up their learning and leveraging modules, open-enrollment courses, and badges. It was rad to see how they leveraged Canvas to facilitate the process. I took that new idea back and created my own online and hybrid PD for staff. I've done it a couple other times even shared one about learning Canvas to the Commons ( Canvas Levels of Learning). 

My tips: Don't be shy. When standing in line for food, talk to others. Say hi to folks you pass in the workshops. Ask questions after sessions. When you see a school logo you recognize, call it out and connect. You won't regret it. 

I'll be there again, if you are too, let's connect! 

[DiannaDK]

I am so excited to attend.  This will be my second in-person InstCon.  Keystone in 2018 was my first.  The networking was incredible and everyone was so friendly.  I know I have several Hoosier friends who will be in attendance and I can't wait to meet many of the people I've gotten to know online. 

Tips:

• Keep track of those sessions you wish to attend but always have a backup plan. 
• Stay hydrated!
• Leave room in your bags for the swag. 
• Make it a point to meet greet people whenever you're standing in line or waiting for a session to start.  Once you leave Denver you'll have a lot of new friends!

See you in a few weeks! 

[mjoaquin]

This will be my third in-person InstCon, the prior two were at Keystone. I am traveling as a #solopanda for the first time! Looking forward to the (hopefully) cooler CO temps! 

[melodyc_lam]

Hi! I'm a #solopanda as well 🙂

Can someone explain Hack Night in more detail because that sounds amazing and up my alley as a ed tech coach/coder/Canvas Admin right now 🙂

[mjennings · Accepted solution]

@melodyc_lam Welcome! Hack Night is a fabulous time to meet & mingle with Canvas developers and other brillant pandas to share and solve issues. I have sat down and explained a certain task I was trying to solve and within minutes had a custom JavaScript that I could add to my instance of Canvas. I have explained larger issues to developers from Canvas and eventually saw a similar update in the Update Notes. 

I try to show up with three things to make the most of the time:

1. A detailed issue I am looking for a solution for. Generally something I have been banging my head against a wall on for a while. The more specific and detailed the better.
2. A list of recent "wins" that I have found to share if someone is facing similar questions so I can help.
3. One open mind and two open ears to learn from incredibly smart and helpful people. I love just moving from table to table listening to what others are working on. It may spark something I haven't considered or relate to some different issue.

This is truly one of my favorite parts of the conference. Hope to see you there!

[Sylvia_Ami]

Thanks @mjennings I just thought of something I want to get help with at Hack Night.

[l_hankin]

This is my second in-person InstCon - the first was right before we migrated to Canvas, when it was in Long Beach - and it will be the first where I won't be a #solopanda 🐼 but I'll certainly be looking forward to meeting up with others!  I'm also grateful to have more info about Hack Night.

[kscinta]

So what is this "Panda" thing all about?  🙂  I guess I will be a #solopanda, as this will be my first in-person conference. I attended virtually last year, but didn't get a whole lot to bring into my world.  Its fun to listen to others experiences, but I think I will get a better feel for what to ask, when I am there emmersed in the conference. I know there is so much I have not tapped into yet.

[chriscas]

Hi @kscinta,

The panda has been the somewhat official mascot of Instructure/Canvas for years (hence why you'll see a lot of panda references throughout the community, and why the default community user avatars are all pandas).  How the panda was picked, I have no idea, but I know it was already in place before I started my career as a Canvas admin back in 2014.

Bigger schools/universities often send a whole team of people, and sometimes those teams tend to congregate together for most of the conferences, and people who are attending solo or with maybe only one other colleague can sometimes. feel a but left out.  Now with that being said, the #solopanda hashtag (or maybe my newly suggested #duapandaas well) is a way for these InstructureCon attendees to find others who might like to get together at some point during the conference without having to necessarily be super outgoing and social to locate others like them.

Hope that helps explain things a bit!

-Chris

[mjennings]

@chriscas & @kscinta I may be off a bit on the details, but I believe the story goes that when Instructure first moved into their office building there was a reception desk as you entered. They had not hired anyone to for that job and one day someone place a stuffed panda at the desk to greet people as they came into the offices. And – voilà! – the panda mascot was born.

[MikeDombroski]

Hey all! Nice to see everyone here 🙂 We are new to Canvas (May) and this will be my first InstructureCon and I am looking forward to absorbing as much as I can and meeting lots of you! I'll be there as a #duopanda.

[AnissaThompson]

Thank you for the tips! I'm a Canvas Credentials integration tech. Getting excited to come to my first in-person IC, and will also be #solopanda - can't wait to meet everybody!

[rexj]

Thank you for the tips @BethCrook  🙂

This is my first InstCon and I am a #solopanda. I am looking forward to connecting with others.

[MARISSASCHRADER]

This is my first time attending in person and I will be a #solopanda as well. I was able to catch the last two virtually, but am excited to attend in person this year. I am a relatively new Canvas tech coach/admin (just completed my second school year), so I am looking forward to learning new things and experiencing this conference. 

[chriscas]

One thing I haven't seen anyone mention yet is that the conference atmosphere of InstructureCon is generally pretty casual.  For those coming for the first time, business casual attire is probably the dressiest you need to get, but you'll find quite a few people walking around in jeans and tshirts (may given out as SWAG from previous InstructureCons) all day.  I say this because I've heard people comment in previous years that they didn't expect the more causal environment and felt a bit out of place.

If anyone disagrees with this, please comment here, as I don't want to lead anyone completely astray.

-Chris

[mjennings]

I will second you @chriscas. In the past the conference has been pretty casual and I am all for it staying that way.

[ProfessorBeyrer]

Thank you @BethCrook for starting this discussion. This will be my third in-person InstructureCon after Keystone 2016 and Long Beach 2019. At my first one I was impressed with how friendly the Instructure employees were and loved the ability to make connections with Canvas users from different institutions. We were new to Canvas and it was nice to connect with my near colleagues throughout the conference to help us decide how to set up our new instance.

This year I'm going to be a #solopanda and look forward to connecting with others, especially those new to Canvas.

[slwilso3]

Hello from Illinois State University!

My first big InstructureCon, I attended a mini in Chicago in 2016. I'm travelling solo. I do have a question about transportation, the site said there was a shuttle from the Element but the desk is unaware of it. Any other folks at the Element? Any information on the shuttle?

[melodyc_lam]

@slwilso3 Hey! I'm at the Element and it looks like there's a shuttle running from 6:30 to 1pm to the Gaylord but I'm not sure if it's a shuttle that is looping around to all the other hotels or if it's a direct shot to the Gaylord. I'm in a "Canvas is my Jam" shirt today if you'd like to connect. Hope this helps!

[slwilso3]

I found the banner in the lobby, walked right past it!  See you on the shuttle!