Being Prepared for Conference: What You Should Know Before Attending NACADA R2

With less than three weeks to our Region 2 Conference in Pittsburgh, it’s time to start thinking about how and what to pack, and especially what technology to bring with you. Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to note that WiFi access on the conference floor of the Omni Hotel will be limited, although WiFi should be available in the other parts of the hotel. If you’re a member of the Omni Hotel rewards program – Select Guest, which is free to join – you’ll have free WiFi in your room, otherwise you’ll be charged a nightly access fee.

Fortunately, there is excellent cellphone coverage in the hotel, including the conference areas, so you should have access to your cellphones – although this might be a great opportunity to go digital free for a few days!

I do want to highlight a few useful technology advising travel tips, including some special notes for presenters.

Packing Right

            Packing for any trip – including a conference – is always tough, and it’s important to strike the right balance between “I forgot my charger and am now spending $20 in an airport” and “I think three checked bags is overkill.” To cut down on the number of cords you have to bring, try to use multiport chargers – chargers with more than one USB port. It’s also important to understand how powerful a wall charger is. Typical wall chargers, for an iPhone 7 for example, is roughly 1 watt, and can’t really charge larger devices, such as tablets or iPads, well. Tablet wall chargers, though, run between 10 and 12 watts, and can handle both phones and larger devices. The take away is this: if you have a charger that can handle a tablet, you probably don’t need to bring a separate cellphone charger.

            It’s also important to organize your technology. I’m personally a big fan of a dedicated electronic pouch or small bag, and Amazon has many inexpensive options. Look for something with inbuilt cord holders and something that’s easy to access – if you need to grab something from your bag quickly, it’s no fun to have to dig through three or four layers of cases.

Portable Power

            The upcoming NACADA Region 2 conference is going to very well attended – which is great and something we’re very happy about! – but all those people can pose a challenge to find a wall socket to plug in and charge your devices. If you’re concerned, I’d recommend bringing a portable charger. These small devices (which range in size from a tube of lipstick to a deck of cards) are power stations on the go, and let you quickly charge up a phone, tablet, or even laptop, depending on their size and capabilities. They’re inexpensive and widely available. One thing to note, though, is they have to be charged before you can use them, and this can take up to 24 hours.

The Proper Presentation

            If you’re presenting at the Region 2 conference (congratulations!) it’s important to make sure you bring everything you need. If you’ve request AV tools, you’ll still need to provide a laptop, so make sure you bring a charger and any cables you might need. If you’re using a Mac, make sure to bring a cable adapter – Macbooks have a proprietary mini Display port, which cannot connect to most portable projects, which use VGA.