Frequently Asked Questions

What is a K-12 Open Minds?

Open Minds is a conference that focuses on the use of open source software and open content in the K-12 education sector. Open Source software, for the uninitiated, is software built by a global community that has no license costs. Presenters at Open Minds are experienced in the use and implementation of a variety of open source products from the server room to the classroom. Come and join us as we celebrate our 3rd year.

How Much Does it Cost?

Attendance at this years Open Minds conference is free…. well at least there are no registration fees. Many thanks to Michigan City Area Schools for their willingness to host this years event!

How Big is the Conference?

Open Minds is not a big conference and has traditionally brought in somewhere between two and three hundred attendees. Even though it is on the small side, it is a wonderful event to find out new things about open source and to network with some of the finest open source minds in the world.

Why do I need to create a profile on this site?

Profiles are needed so that you can register and become an active participant in conference activities. Your profile also allows you to add sessions to your own personal calendar.

Why do I need to Pick Sessions?

Picking sessions allows us to see how many folks are planning on attending a given session. By being allowed to see how many have registered, we can determine if a session has enough bodies to actually support that session.

Can I register more than one person at once?

Unfortunately, no. Each person’s profile holds their conference registration information. (This was also originally setup this way so we could accept payment for registration – but is no longer necessary).

Will I receive any registration materials in the mail?

No, everything is handled online. Show up with an ID that matches your registration.

We’ll send you a few emails leading up to the conference, but that’s it.

Is K-12 Open Minds good for beginners who know nothing about Open Source ?

Open Minds is a wonderful place for beginners to learn about open source. The attendees are very friendly and more than willing to answer questions about their areas of expertise. Additionally, many sessions are targeted at the beginner audience and will give you a good idea of how to get started.

Can I still become a sponsor of K-12 Open Minds?

Yes! We would love to have you sponsor our event. Please get in touch with us via the contact page on the site.

How can I get my hands on the code for this site?

This site and its source code are provided by This by Them under the GPL license (same as Drupal). It does not include the graphics for this site, but it does have a Zen sub-theme ready for your own graphics. Read the full Case Study on how we built it and the requirements that drove our decisions.

Have a question not answered here? Please contact us.