Published: September 29, 2016

VCARA presents Real World Advantages Through Virtual World Experiences: Learning, Networking, e-Portfolio Building, and Interviewing.

Join Lori Bell, Alyse Dunavant-Jones, Jeni Crummey, and Marie Vans as they discuss how SJSU iSchool instructors and students have used virtual worlds to learn, teach, make connections, and even find a job!

Lori Bell is an adjunct lecturer for San Jose State University and a librarian with over 30 years of experience working in a variety of library settings and projects in virtual and physical libraries. She will discuss her experiences with the value and opportunities for effective learning in an immersive environment. One example will be hosting a book discussion in Second Life

Alyse Dunavant-Jones is an iSchool MLIS student and VCARA member. She manages VCARA social media and represents VCARA on the Director and Student Leadership Committee. She will discuss how being in VCARA has connected her with other MLIS students (in and outside of SJSU’s iSchool), LIS professionals, and other opportunities.

Jeni Crummey is an iSchool MLIS alumna and VCARA member. She took iSchool courses in Second Life and helped build a town and plan a curriculum for a future SJSU course. She will share how her experiences with Second Life and as the VCARA Estate Manager helped her share a different perspective for an MLIS degree during a job interview.

Marie Vans is an iSchool MLIS alumna and VCARA member. During her time at SJSU, she served as the VCARA Estate Manager and focused on using virtual worlds for distance education. She will discuss how she integrated her experiences, both for-credit courses and volunteer work for VCARA, into several competencies for her ePortfolio in Spring 2016.

VCARA’s SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/43/73/33

Please gather at the VCARA Dome 5-10 minutes prior to the event. (If you get lost, no worries! We’ll send a teleport invite to anyone on the iSchool Island before we begin.) This event will be captioned and recorded.