This year's PLoP conference will recognize this creativity. PLoP-97 provides the usual Writers' Workshops as well as opportunities for each attendee to explore their creative self. An exploration that will help them in solving their new problems and in writing their patterns.

This page offers an introduction into what this year's PLoP Conference will be like. At last year's PLoP, Ward Cunningham documented the conference through a photo story. In just a few photographs he captured many of the common scenes from PLoP-96.

If you have suggestions for things to do at PLoP, please email them to me!

Up to PLoP Page

Workshops

• Writers' Workshops

  Writers' Workshops are used by the pattern community to improve our patterns. These are the primary focus of our time at PLoP.

  An excellent introduction to Writers' Workshops has been put together by Doug Schmidt. You can view it here. Jim Coplien has prepared a pattern language for Writers' Workshops that offers insight into the reasons behind the process we use.

• Writing Workshops

  A series of Writing Workshops will be available on Thursday afternoon. These Workshops will generally follow one of three tracks: Creative Ideas, Expertise and Motivation. The intersection of these three areas is the place that the creativity required to write a pattern thrives. [source Teresa Amabile]

  Creative Ideas

  Topics in this track will include

  • Music and Patterns with Neil Harrison
  • Alternative drawing methods for your Pattern with George Platts
  • Juggling with Mark Bradac
  • Nature Walks
  • Designing a building with A Pattern Language Leader Needed

  Expertise

  Topics in this track will include

  • What Constitutes a Pattern Language? How do We Document a Pattern Language? What is the Relationship between Pattern Languages and Software Architectures? with Ted Foster and Liping Zhao
  • Patterns for Pattern Writing with Jim Doble and Gerard Meszaros
  • Pattern form discussion

  Motivation

  Topics to include

  • Introducing patterns into your workplace with David DeLano and Linda Rising
  • Introduction to the World of Patterns with Norm Kerth
  • A sample study group with Joshua Kerievsky
  • Documenting Frameworks with Patterns with Bobby Woolf

  Events will be announced as they are finalized. Each event will be limited to a maximum number of participants, via a sign-up at Allerton Park.

  Leader's Wanted

  Leaders for many/most of these activities are still needed. Please send mail to Bob Hanmer if you would like to volunteer to lead one of these activities.

  This page has some additional information for Writing Workshop leaders and prospective leaders.

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  Gifting

  If someone gives you something ... pass it on

  Gifting is a custom of many societies of giving visitors and friends small tokens of friendship. This custom will begin with PLoP/97. PLoP attendees should bring about 20 small gifts that represent themselves, their work, or their companies. Suggested gifts range from hats to t-shirts, from toys to trinkets, from pens to pencils, from abaci to zirconium.

  Over the course of the conference these gifts should be presented to other attendees. Whenever the giver feels moved to make a gift. Getting started might be a little awkward, as we each determine when to give what to who. After the first few gifts, it will become less so. And it will likely feel risky, "is my gift good enough?", "what if they don't have anything to give me?", "what if I receive something from someone that I don't want to give anything to?" This also will reduce after the first few.

  The benefits of deepening our connections to the other pattern folks at PLoP, and the wisdom into the them and ourselves will greatly exceed our discomfort at getting started. Expect to receive some insight into your fellow attendees, from who gifts you and with what; as well as insight into yourself when you receive a gift.

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  Attire

  The weather at Allerton Park for PLoP is typically in the 60-90 degree (fahrenheit) range with the possibility for rain. The Allerton Park buildings are air conditioned. Events and activities will be taking place both inside and outside on the lawn.

  To raise our creative spirits, outdoor games are an important part of PLoP. Plan on going outside occasionally to frolic on the grass, and plan your attire for comfort and convenience. While suits aren't banned, you might be the only one wearing one!

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  Games

  This year we will have George Platts with us again to lead us in games and "Tangential Thinking". Some games have become "traditions", while others will be surprises. Come with an open mind, prepared to engage in some fun time with your fellow PLoPers.

  Space will be provided this year for George to set up his Tangential Thinking space. This is somewhere you can go for a fresh outlook or a breather or ???

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  Naptime

  Naptime will be scheduled.

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  Accommodations

  Allerton Park has beautiful grounds and facilities well suited to PLoP. It was not however designed as a modern conference center. This has two practical ramifications that participants should be aware of.
  • Sleeping rooms are shared with other PLoP attendees. The facilities do not have nearly enough rooms for everyone to have a private room.
  • The building has very few telephones. PLoP might be a good time to plan on getting away from the office ... or bringing your own telephone.
  • The phone number at Allerton Park is: +1 217 333 3287

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  Under consideration as activities:

  • Alexander trivia contest
  • Story Telling
  • EuroPLoP report

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  Disclaimer: The program for PLoP-97 Allerton Park is still being created. This creation will not be complete until the last person leaves on September 5th! Sessions and activities described here reflect current thought, and are subject to change without prior notice.

  This page URL: http://st-www.cs.uiuc.edu/~hanmer/PLoP-97/Activities.html

  Last updated: Thu Aug 14 10:14:56 CDT 1997