Agenda and Readings

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We are excited to welcome everyone to the University of Illinois eText Unconference tomorrow!

All events will be hosted at the I Hotel.

Schedule:

  • Thursday, June 28th
    12p-1p: Lunch
    1p-2p: Intro – What are the Issues?
    2p-2:45p: Breakout Session I
    2:45-3p: Break
    3p-3:45p Breakout Session II (previous groups, or re-group)
    4-4:30p: Reconvene — What are the initial findings?
  • Friday, June 29th
    8a-9a: Breakfast
    9a-10a: What came out of yesterday?
    10a-10:45a: Dork Shorts (see note above to register)
    11a-11:45a: Breakout Session III
    12p-1p: Lunch
    1p-4p: Report out and conclusions
  • Reading links:

    1. Ariel Diaz on the future of etextbooks http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/06/05/are-free-e-text-books-the-future-or-new-fashioned-copyright-infringement/?utm_campaign=forbespost

    2.   Compulsory purchases of etextbooks for students by Tom Malek of McGraw Hill  http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/05/18/should-college-students-be-forced-to-buy-e-books/3.       A different approach to etextbooks by Jeff Shelstad of Flat World Knowledge
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/06/15/can-e-textbooks-be-both-free-and-profitable-bertelsmann-seems-to-think-so/

    4.       Rob Reynolds posts on the future of etextbooks at Michael feldstein’s blog e-Literate http://mfeldstein.com/the-ultimate-hack-re-coding-textbooks-and-other-learning-content-intoduction/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter
    and at his own blog The Learning Lot http://thelearninglot.blogspot.com/

  • Guide to Champaign-Urbana
    • Champaign County VB has a fantastic website with lots of great resources: http://www.visitchampaigncounty.org/plan-your-trip
    • Map – here is a map of Champaign with points of interest marked: http://goo.gl/maps/ezjc
    • Getting around
      • Cabs – We recommend Black Cab & Limo (217.693.2468).
        • Call ahead to arrange a pick up at the airport. Takes credit cards
      • I Hotel Shuttle
        • If you are staying at the I Hotel, they have a shuttle that can pick you up at the airport. To set up, please call 217.819.5000 or email the concierge at concierge@stayatthei.com
      • Bus — CUMTD. Scheduling is available through Google Maps.
        • Get almost anywhere is town for $1! Take the 27 bus from the airport to the I Hotel (15 min), campus (20 min) or downtown (25 min). Multiple buses from I Hotel to downtown Champaign area.
    • Restaurants (all are included on Google Map linked to above)
      • An Entirely Personal and Idiosyncratic Restaurant List for Champaign-Urbana, by Glenda Morgan
        Carmon’s Bistro
        A charming bistro in downtown Champaign serving classic bistro and American fare. Current menu favorites include their shrimp and grits, softshell crab, pork rinds, butchers plate and catfish. They always have vegetarian options available and the cocktail list is great. Ask for their michelada and their punch of the week.
      • Black Dog 
        A great BBQ spot in Urbana. Their pork belly, smoked chicken, pulled pork and hot smoked salmon are all to be recommended. They also have a great beer and bourbon selection. No reservations taken and there’s pretty much always a line, though it moves moderately quickly.
      • Golden Harbor
        A really good Chinese restaurant close to downtown Champaign. Best enjoyed with a large group. The menu options are extensive and impressive. We especially enjoy the steamed pork buns. They don’t have a liquor license but you can byob. This is my personal favorite, but there are quite a few very good Chinese restaurants in CU. Check out the translated Chinese menu!
      • Mas Amigos
        Decent Mexican is not impossible to find on the prairie. Reasonable prices and when they offer you a large beer, they’re not kidding. Great lengua tacos and chile rellenos. Also great vegetarian options
      • Bacaro
        In downtown Champaign and owned by the same folks as Carmon’s but more upscale. I usually go with a couple of appetizers or an appetizer and a pasta. Few things disappoint. If you are a fan of cold soups, try theirs or Carmon’s, they are excellent representations of the genre. Their cocktails are also great.
      • The Blind Pig & The Piglet 
        Both in downtown Champaign. The Pig has a stupendous beer selection and the Piglet brews its own very good beer on premises. Neither serve food.
      • Farrens
        In downtown Champaign. Some very good burgers and a decent beer and wine list.
      • Culvers
        For the non Midwesterners amongst us, this is a fast food chain at which you can buy a really pretty darn good burger or fish sandwich. And they serve custard, not ice cream, custard. As Our Maker intended.
      • Jarlings Custard Cup
        A Champaign institution. Again, custard not ice cream.
      • The Esquire
        A very basic but friendly bar serving good, inexpensive liquor and bar food. Home of the Friday night UIUC GSLIS Symposium
      • The Ribeye
        As close as we’ve got in CU to a Wisconsin Supper Club. If you’ve never been to a Supper Club you should go to one soon.