iStudent Blog

iStudent Blog

Navigating the E-Portfolio Process: Tips, Tricks and Tales from the Trenches

Banner, Navigating e-Portfolio

Published: November 13, 2024 by Gabe Farmer

Are you nearing the finish line of your MLIS program? Is the infamous e-Portfolio looming large on your to-do list? You’re not alone, you don’t have to look far to find fellow students nervous about the e-Portfolio process. To help demystify the process, I chatted with Dr. Michael Stephens, SJSU iSchool professor, and two fellow students, Ellie Keene and Rose Harless, who are currently in the final stages of the e-Portfolio process.

iStudent Blog

November Events to Inspire, Inform and Connect

Published: October 31, 2024 by Gabe Farmer

November is shaping up to be packed with exciting iSchool events, each offering unique insights and chances to connect with experts and peers. With topics ranging from diversity and inclusivity to student wellness, there’s something here for everyone. These events offer excellent opportunities to connect with fellow students and information science professionals. Take a look at the highlights and consider joining a few!

iStudent Blog

Top 5 Cybersecurity Tips for iSchool Students

Published: October 28, 2024 by Gabe Farmer

'Cybersecurity tips for iSchool Students'

Cybersecurity Awareness

October is known for spooky tales, but what could be scarier in today’s digital age than having your personal information stolen? October was declared Cybersecurity Awareness Month 20 years ago in 2004. In this digital age, we have so much of our personal information accessible online, but it is easy to feel a sense of anonymity on the internet. Maybe you have even thought, “I’m not anyone important, why would a hacker target me?” Dr. Crystal Fausett, iSchool Assistant Professor, says this can be a false sense of security.

iStudent Blog

Symposium Recap of ‘From Silence to Pride’
National Deaf History Month Symposium

Symposium Recap of ‘From Silence to Pride’

Published: October 25, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland

In honor of National Deaf History Month, the San José State University iSchool hosted a free online symposium on April 30, 2024, titled “Silence to Pride”. A recording of the event is available on YouTube. The symposium featured co-keynotes KayCee Choi and Alicia Deal, and a panel with Brenden Gilbert, Evelyn Keolian, Sadia R. Khan, and Brad McKenna.

iStudent Blog

A Witch’s Guide to Online Learning: Success Tips for iSchool Students, Part 2
The Sanderson Saga Continues

Published: October 21, 2024 by Gabe Farmer

The Sanderson Sisters in the school library

Last week in part 1 the Sanderson sisters learned about some of the great San José State University iSchool resources available to them while they worked on preparing for their first semester. We join them again now as classes begin, presenting them with new challenges. They don’t fret though, because they’ve got more than just magic up their sleeves, they’ve got the iSchool Student Resources!

iStudent Blog

A Witch’s Guide to Online Learning: Success Tips for iSchool Students

The 3 Sanderson Sisters standing in front of a computer with an SJSU iSchool Pumpkin on their desk

Published: October 14, 2024 by Gabe Farmer

The San José State University iSchool provides students with a cornucopia of resources to help steer our course through our chosen programs. However, the iSchool Student Resources page provides a whopping 124 links to various resources in just one webpage. My goal in this post is to provide a pragmatic and digestible guide to some of the most commonly used student resources.

iStudent Blog

Future-Focused Fall: October Events Roundup

Published: October 8, 2024 by Gabe Farmer

October iSchool Events Fall Banner

As we break out the Halloween decorations and enjoy a smorgasbord of pumpkin-spice flavored treats, let’s take a look at the iSchool events coming up this October! The month ahead offers events ranging from casual networking to professional education and development opportunities, both online and in-person. 

iStudent Blog

Building Community Through Stories: Introducing Gabe, New iSchool Blog Writer

Gabe, his wife, and his dog

Published: September 26, 2024 by Gabe Farmer

Hello, fellow San José State University School of Information students! I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with many of you in classes and group projects already, but there are still so many of you I haven’t had the chance to meet yet. My name is Gabe Farmer and I’ll be your new iSchool blog writer! I’m excited to take up this mantle and create helpful, engaging, and community-building content for us all to share. First, I’d like to tell y’all a bit about myself, so you can get an idea of the person behind the posts!

iStudent Blog

Symposium Recap of ‘From Curation and Preservation to Showcasing, the Role of Libraries in African Americans and the Arts’
Black History Month Symposium

Symposium Recap of ‘From Curation and Preservation to Showcasing, the Role of Libraries in African Americans and the Arts’

Published: September 10, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland

In honor of Black History Month, the San José State University iSchool hosted a free online symposium on February 21st, 2024, titled “From Curation and Preservation to Showcasing, the Role of Libraries in African Americans and the Arts”. A recording of the event is available on YouTube. The symposium was presented in partnership with California Librarians Black Caucus (CLBC) and featured moderators Carolyn Norman and Tina Fontenot, keynote Nichelle M. Hayes, and a panel with Dr. Marva DeLoach, Joy M. Doan, and Shauntee Burns-Simpson.

iStudent Blog

ALA Annual Ignites My Passion for a Career in Libraries

San Diego street view

Published: July 30, 2024 by Cindy Ries

At the end of June 2024, I was able to attend the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, CA, with financial assistance through the iSchool’s travel grant. Having just completed my second semester in the program, this was an amazing opportunity to participate in this conference to learn and connect with fellow students and professionals.

iStudent Blog

Attending ALA Annual was Completely Worth It for this Introvert

2024 ALA Annual Conference Banner at San Diego Convention Center

Published: July 25, 2024 by Ava Jones

I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, California, thanks to a generous travel grant from the iSchool. I had never attended a professional conference before, and attending this conference allowed me to feel more connected to the field of librarianship. It helped me build connections with the other students at the iSchool. It helped me learn more about AI and other current topics in the field and helped develop my professional confidence.

iStudent Blog

2024 ALA National Conference Provides Education on Librarianship and Tech Trends

Core Pre-Conference Sign

Published: July 18, 2024 by Shannon Broden

The American Library Association National Conference took place from June 27 to July 2, 2024 in San Diego, California. With the assistance of funds from the San José State University School of Information to cover travel expenses to San Diego and promote student leadership of the school’s ALA Student Chapter and the User Experience Student Group, I was able to attend a pre-conference, as well as some panels organized by ALA CORE. ALA’s CORE: Leadership, Infrastructure and Futures association focuses on “buildings & operations, leadership & management, metadata & collections, and technology.” (Source: https://www.ala.org/core)