WCSS is currently in the planning stages of what we'd like to call our "Beyondference" or a conference that is bigger and bolder than just one weekend of virtual learning. Our plan is to have presentations every Wednesday evening throughout the year leading up to a weekend of learning in mid-March at our virtual conference. We are still working out a lot of logistics but are seeking out presenters now.
Check out who we have locked in to present in the coming weeks!
APPLY HERE TO PRESENT AT THE 2020-21 BEYONDFERENCE!
Check out who we have locked in to present in the coming weeks!
APPLY HERE TO PRESENT AT THE 2020-21 BEYONDFERENCE!
WCSS STATE CONFERENCE FAQS
“Why is the conference always in Madison? It’s a long way for me to drive.”
Historically the state conference did move around the state, including Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Oconomowoc. Our best conference attendance has always been in the Madison area. Many people respond to our surveys and say they love being downtown Madison with easy access to the Capitol, restaurants, and much more. Our conference moved to the Concourse Hotel in 2015, and the reviews of the hotel itself have always been overwhelmingly positive. The goal of the WCSS board moving forward will be to host additional workshops in locations throughout the state, even those close to Madison, so that we can constantly focus on professional development for Wisconsin’s Social Studies teachers. If you have any ideas or suggestions for local workshops, please contact the board.
“Why is the conference on Sunday and Monday? Other disciplines have their conferences over two days, why not Social Studies? I don’t want to give up a family day on a Sunday to attend the conference.”
There is a lot of history to take into account when it comes to answering this question. Act 10 saw a dramatic shift in funds to school districts, and the amount of money schools spent on professional development changed. The first years after Act 10 saw a significant drop in our conference attendance, as more educators were forced to spend their own money to attend the WCSS Conference. Today, that is still true in many districts. Many of our attendees are not only paying for their own registration, but many are also paying for a sub to be able to attend on Monday. The board debated the Sunday/Monday conference a long time. We know that it is difficult to give up a weekend with families, but we also strongly believe that if we move the conference to a Monday/Tuesday, many more schools will not allow their teachers to be gone for two consecutive days. Schools throughout the state of Wisconsin are focused on reading and math, and many of those teachers are able to attend a two day conference. However, we know statistically that far fewer social studies teachers would be able to do the same.
“Why are there breaks in the schedule for lunch, awards and vendor time? I would like to attend more sessions instead.”
The WCSS board is constantly working to make adjustments to the conference to provide as much professional development time as we possibly can. With the move to the Concourse Hotel, we eliminated the Sunday evening dinner so teachers, colleagues, and friends could go out in Madison and enjoy the downtown restaurants. We also added trivia on Sunday nights as another way to socialize. Lunch on Monday is a key component to the conference. The awards are a way to recognize Wisconsin educators and leaders that impact Social Studies education in Wisconsin and take only a short time away from the conference. The lunch itself is a good way for teachers to talk about the conference, to network, and to plan for the afternoon sessions. Our relationships with vendors also has a long history. Many of our vendors have been at our conference for ten years or more. This past year we had a record number of first time attendees at the conference, and many were able to take away a lot from the vendor experience. If we do not provide a specific vendor time, many people would be unable to visit with the vendors, making it less likely for the vendors to want to come back to our conference. We are in the process of reviewing the vendor space and time frame, but it is an important component to the state conference.
“Why is the conference always in Madison? It’s a long way for me to drive.”
Historically the state conference did move around the state, including Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Oconomowoc. Our best conference attendance has always been in the Madison area. Many people respond to our surveys and say they love being downtown Madison with easy access to the Capitol, restaurants, and much more. Our conference moved to the Concourse Hotel in 2015, and the reviews of the hotel itself have always been overwhelmingly positive. The goal of the WCSS board moving forward will be to host additional workshops in locations throughout the state, even those close to Madison, so that we can constantly focus on professional development for Wisconsin’s Social Studies teachers. If you have any ideas or suggestions for local workshops, please contact the board.
“Why is the conference on Sunday and Monday? Other disciplines have their conferences over two days, why not Social Studies? I don’t want to give up a family day on a Sunday to attend the conference.”
There is a lot of history to take into account when it comes to answering this question. Act 10 saw a dramatic shift in funds to school districts, and the amount of money schools spent on professional development changed. The first years after Act 10 saw a significant drop in our conference attendance, as more educators were forced to spend their own money to attend the WCSS Conference. Today, that is still true in many districts. Many of our attendees are not only paying for their own registration, but many are also paying for a sub to be able to attend on Monday. The board debated the Sunday/Monday conference a long time. We know that it is difficult to give up a weekend with families, but we also strongly believe that if we move the conference to a Monday/Tuesday, many more schools will not allow their teachers to be gone for two consecutive days. Schools throughout the state of Wisconsin are focused on reading and math, and many of those teachers are able to attend a two day conference. However, we know statistically that far fewer social studies teachers would be able to do the same.
“Why are there breaks in the schedule for lunch, awards and vendor time? I would like to attend more sessions instead.”
The WCSS board is constantly working to make adjustments to the conference to provide as much professional development time as we possibly can. With the move to the Concourse Hotel, we eliminated the Sunday evening dinner so teachers, colleagues, and friends could go out in Madison and enjoy the downtown restaurants. We also added trivia on Sunday nights as another way to socialize. Lunch on Monday is a key component to the conference. The awards are a way to recognize Wisconsin educators and leaders that impact Social Studies education in Wisconsin and take only a short time away from the conference. The lunch itself is a good way for teachers to talk about the conference, to network, and to plan for the afternoon sessions. Our relationships with vendors also has a long history. Many of our vendors have been at our conference for ten years or more. This past year we had a record number of first time attendees at the conference, and many were able to take away a lot from the vendor experience. If we do not provide a specific vendor time, many people would be unable to visit with the vendors, making it less likely for the vendors to want to come back to our conference. We are in the process of reviewing the vendor space and time frame, but it is an important component to the state conference.