Embedded Files
When should I arrive?
Ideally, try to arrive at the Yorktowne Hotel between 1:00 and no later than 5:00 p.m.! If you're flying in or arriving on Amtrak, we'll work with you for ground transportation. If driving, there is parking for the Yorktowne Hotel at 41 East Market Street (right across from the Hotel).
After getting settled in, feel free to spend some time relaxing and/or mingling with others in the hotel lobby, the Graham Rooftop Lounge, or have a walk around our fair city. We'd also be happy to have you stop by and see us at the Center for Community Engagement, also directly across from the Yorktowne Hotel, at 59 East Market Street. We will be here to welcome you and would enjoy some informal conversation before we get underway.
See the full schedule for details.
What do I need to bring?
Most importantly, bring a laptop or other device on which you can write and connect to the internet—we’ll be using electronic materials. If you don’t have one, let us know right away and we’ll arrange for a loaner.
Other than that, bring whatever makes you feel inspired, ready to work, and energetic—like your favorite pen or journal. We’ll also have all the tools that writers like (paper, pens, etc.).
Will hotel and meals be provided?
Yes, we have a complimentary room provided for you at the Yorktowne Hotel, and we provide all meals while you are here. Undergraduate researchers will (except in special cases) be double-occupancy; we’ll send you the list of rooms closer to the workshop date.
What if I have questions or issues as I travel?
Dominic’s cell phone is 717-968-0470. You might create that contact in your own cell phone so you have it if you run into any difficulties.
Oh, my, what shall I wear?
For the Friday evening reception and dinner, business casual is suggested. For the workshop days (Saturday and Sunday), dress casually—we’ll be doing lots of hands-on work. Comfortable clothes, shoes, and layers as needed; we will be moving around York a bit for various parts of the workshop.
While we wearing masks is no longer required, we certainly encourage you to follow whatever measures keep you and others safe. Just be mindful.
How should undergraduate researchers and mentors prepare for the workshop?
“Story Time”: Some reflective work before arriving
Those of us interested in mentoring undergraduate research want to learn more about what it is that sparks motivation, joy, and commitment in students who join us in our work.
Both during our Friday reception and dinner, and then in our “Story Time” moments on Saturday, each of us will have the opportunity to (very briefly) tell a story about how and why we came to undergraduate research—and why they believe it can be impactful. It’s very informal—a quick, one-or-two minute story about what (and who) got you hooked on undergraduate research. That will help us better understand one another.
So think about an origin story you can tell in two minutes or less, and we’ll call on you during one of the sessions to tell that story—informally, from the heart, without pressure. Here, you can find some advice on how to prepare.
Anything else I can do to prepare and come with the right mindset?
We’re glad you asked! Most of your success will be based on about this unique experience as different than “schoolwork.” Here, we are all fellow researchers.
We’ll focus on ways that we all can be more active, empathic listeners. We’ll use exercises that help us to consider the fully-embodied humans that do research—not disembodied minds. Drawing on principles of human-centered design (a.k.a, design thinking), we’ll spend time throughout the workshop discussing the motives, impulses, and needs that have led to the work we do.
The experience is designed to be hands-on and comfortable so that you can leave our days together with a more refined and developed plan for your project. You should use each session to ask yourself questions such as “How might what I’m learning apply to my project? How does it change my thinking? What new techniques/ methodologies can I use to collect information or data? and “How can my work be consequential—how might it do some good in the world!” We’ll provide materials to walk you through the activities.
So, come ready to talk with mentors and fellow researchers about your project, what you’ve accomplished so far, what you hope to accomplish, and what questions you have about how to move it forward.
To prepare, you might:
make a list of goals and questions you have to take next steps in your research,
practice how you might best explain your project to others as briefly as possible—its goals, your methods of research, its potential consequences, etc.
have a look at the proposals of other researchers who are coming
Learn about the expertise of the mentors that are attending, and create a list of folks (both undergrad researchers and mentors) you want to talk with. The list of mentors is available here.
What about the Mentors’ mindset?
For mentors, this workshop is designed to be an idealized workspace, one in which you can have one-on-one or small group interactions. At the Naylor Workshop, you can meet undergraduate researchers where they are—a place where you can both give advice to, and learn from, these wonderful new entrants to the discipline’s work. This time can also be used to develop some shared projects and a network of researchers. We would also like to come away from this work with new knowledge about how our discipline might encourage socially conscious and consequential research.
So as mentors, we should also be ready to learn from the undergraduate researchers, using a mutual mentoring format (as described by Jessie Moore and her co-authors in the Naylor Report.
We’ll also try to think more broadly about “research methods”; that is, instead of just providing the “best practices,” we’ll mutually consider what practices might fit students’ research impulses. As design thinking suggests, bring your “beginner’s mind.”
What is the purpose of the “Working Groups”?
Mentors and undergraduate researchers have been assigned to a “working group.”
These groups were our best attempts to match you with others that seem to share areas of interest. You will check in with this group throughout the workshop to test out ideas and collaborate. We encourage you to correspond among members of your working group in the time leading up to the Workshop; in any case, you’ll have time to get to know members of your group on Friday and meet regularly with this group in person during throughout the Saturday activities. But you will also meet others not in your group throughout the experience, so feel free to gravitate toward those with whom you most connect!
What if I have other questions?
Email Hunter ( hconrad1@ycp.edu ) and/or Dominic (dcarpini@ycp.edu).
Or call our office number at 717-815-1213 during business hours before the Workshop.
Or call Dominic’s cellphone if you have questions en route (717-968-0470).
Page updated
Report abuse