Highlights Foundation Retreat 2014

NOTE: THIS PAGE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED.

Announcing the 2nd Annual Dust or Magic eBook Retreat: Designing and Critiquing Narrative Driven Interactive Media for Children

This year’s theme: Digital Children’s Literature 101.

WHEN: April 27-29, 2014 Sunday through Tuesday (although you are welcome to come a day early for the Eric Carle dinner).

WHAT IS IT: See the latest agenda.

A special event bringing together leading designers of children’s interactive content, to “get smart” on children’s literature in the age of the touch screen.

We’ll critique best practice, as identified by the 2014 BolognaRagazzi Digital Prize Jurors, and see what went wrong with the many less-than-noteworthy products flooding the Apple and Android app stores. We’ll explore how to tap the potential of the tablet medium for:

• Telling stories— to move beyond the page swipe and hot spot.
• Helping emerging readers  — with scaffolding techniques.
• Empowering children, using tried-and-true techniques.
• Embed reinforcements — using interactive techniques to work with the narrative
• Foster child authorship — including putting a child’s voice inside a story.
• Learn the essentials of “appcraft“

WHEN: April 27-29, 2014 Sunday through Tuesday (you can come on the 26th for the Eric Carle dinner).

A special event bringing together leading designers of children’s interactive content, to “get smart” on children’s literature in the age of the touch screen.

We’ll critique best practice, as identified by the 2014 BolognaRagazzi Digital Prize Jurors, and see what went wrong with the many less-than-noteworthy products flooding the Apple and Android app stores. We’ll explore how to tap the potential of the tablet medium for:

• Telling stories— to move beyond the page swipe and hot spot.
• Helping emerging readers  — with scaffolding techniques.
• Empowering children, using tried-and-true techniques.
• Embed reinforcements — using interactive techniques to work with the narrative
• Foster child authorship — including putting a child’s voice inside a story.
• Learn the essentials of “appcraft“

We’ll also demo and discuss the state of children’s app design, and offer on the spot critiques of participant work, using Dust or Magic’s laser guided feedback. Speakers will include a small group of experts that represent three distinct views — Publishers, Researchers and Reviewers.  The event is independent, there are no sponsors or selling; all platforms are discussed from a scholarly rather than commercial point of view.
WHO:  Attendees include children’s publishers, app designers, reviewers and researchers.
WHERE: The Highlights Foundation*. Our meeting will take place at the epicenter of children’s literacy  — at the former home of the founders of Highlights for Children, in the wooded hills of Pennsylvania.  The campus consists of the Founders’ farmhouse, 21 cabins and a conference center known as The Barn at Boyds Mills, located 2½ hours from New York City and 45 minutes from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.Disclaimer: Other than renting the facility from Highlights Foundation, this event has no formal connection to Highlights-related apps or publications.Here’s a good article about the Highlights Foundation.
Meetings and meals take place in The Barn, which has several relaxed classroom-like areas, a Great Hall, an outdoor fireplace and a  kitchen. There is excellent password-free Wi-Fi and high definition displays. Charming cabins with a rustic feel have modern facilities and are writer-ready with desk, chair and stocked bookshelves. Farm-style meals are prepared by a top-notch chef who can accommodate dietary restrictions. Mealtimes are a time for lively discussion. Snacks are always available for late-night or early morning writing sessions. Participants may use available computers, thumb drives, projectors and displays for demos.There is limited cellular reception on the grounds. There are trails for hiking, outside seats for contemplation, a word garden and yoga most mornings in the reclaimed horse barn.
REGISTRATION: is $1190 per seat ($890 at small publisher rate) and includes food and supplies. Group size is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call Megan at 800-993-9499 to see if you qualify for the small publisher rate. Visit our online registration form.
HOUSING: (double occupancy) is an additional $270 ($135 per night for two nights) and can be paid for up to one week prior to the retreat using our secure transaction portal. You can request a private room for an additional $100 (pending availability) and specify rooming preferences on the registration form or by calling 800-993-9499 (9 to 3 EST).
To register by phone, please call 800-993-9499 (9 to 3 EST) and speak with Lisa or Megan.
To register online, visit our registration form.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS: Two CEUs are being offered by the Erikson Institute’s TEC for $100 extra.