As you can see in the photo above, the venue for WordCamp Fayetteville is very laptop-friendly. There’s space, there are electric outlets, and wifi access is easy.

Lots of people bring their laptops. Here are some questions that might help you decide whether you should bring yours:

• Are your laptop tools the easiest way for you to take notes?
• Are you planning on live-tweeting enough that the extra speed will be helpful?
• Will your laptop’s presence encourage you to work or play video games when you could be learning or networking?
• Will you get sick of carrying it around?
• Are you hoping to get some help with your website? Maybe help that will require you to log in quickly and show someone the admin area?

Even if you bring your laptop, think about also having a paper and writing utensil handy. Recent research suggests that the brain-to-hand connection forged by taking notes on paper helps you remember better.

What else should you bring to WordCamp?

• Water. There will be water available, but you’ll be glad you have a refillable bottle.
• A jacket. Outdoor temperatures will be hot, but indoor temperatures can be unpredictable on the U of A campus.
• Business cards. There are situations in which you won’t be able to connect via phone but where you could still hand someone a card.
• Your phone. You’ll want to tweet, take pictures, and swap email addresses.
• A positive attitude. You might end up in a session that’s not right for you (you can switch to another session if that happens, by the way). You might disagree with somebody. Maybe life isn’t sweet for you on this particular day. But WordCamp is always fun and informative, so come with the intention of getting the most out of the weekend.

Oh, and be sure to register.