iStudent Blog
iStudent Blog
Students in all of our programs, as well as applicants, will find the iStudent Blog a gold mine. Written by a current student, this blog provides important information and resources and useful advice, including posts about courses, career pathways, online learning, time management, student groups, conferences, and financial aid.
Star Blog Posts of 2017 and 2018
Published: December 3, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
I thought it would be fun to look back at all the articles I wrote as the lead writer for the iStudent Blog over the last year or so and share my favorites with you. I’ve had the opportunity to interview students, alumni and faculty and write about topics ranging from student loans to setting goals. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my articles and found them helpful too.
I Survived the e-Portfolio (and How You Can Too)
Published: November 26, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
On the first day of INFO-289, I woke up to see I had been added to Dr. Anthony Bernier’s advising site in Canvas with a dozen or so other students. I already knew Dr. Bernier from my work on the School of Information Student Research Journal, so it was nice to see a familiar face. Advisors are assigned randomly and you don’t know who your advisor is until the semester starts. Now I’m writing this article having completed my e-Portfolio several weeks early. My goal with this post is to give you a window into the process and share practical tips that will set you up for success when the time comes for you.
Thankful for iSchool
Published: November 18, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Around this time last year, I wrote an article about the reasons I’m thankful to be a student at the School of Information. Now I’m at the end of my program and I have even more reasons to share with you. I also wanted to hear from you, so I reached out to my peers to find out what they are feeling grateful for as we start winding down for the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition to the flexibility, variety, professional development opportunities and supportive environment I highlighted in 2017’s post, here’s four more of the many reasons I’m grateful to be an iSchool student.
Learn About Technology Trends at the iSchool
Published: November 13, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
According to a new Gartner report, the top 10 strategic technology trends for 2019 include AI-driven development, virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain and digital ethics. You have the opportunity to learn more about some of these trends during your time at the School of Information. Being prepared about technology trends that could impact your future work as an information professional will help you navigate the changes and to maximize them. Not to mention iSchool Director Dr. Hirsh shared with students that employers are looking for candidates with technological skills in her most recent virtual coffee chat.
At Home Ergonomics for Online Students
Published: November 5, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
All of the programs offered by the iSchool are virtual, which means students are often studying at home. Whether you have a fully equipped home office or you tend to just use your laptop on the couch, taking a moment to educate yourself about ergonomics and making a few adjustments could make you more comfortable and prevent injury.
Social Crisis Management Conference Highlights
Published: October 22, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
All SJSU School of Information students are encouraged to attend the Library 2.0 conferences, or watch the recordings at the very least. They’re free, online and offer valuable experiences that extend your classroom learning. You get to hear from information professionals across the world working in all types of environments. It’s also a great networking opportunity. The third and final Library 2.018 conference of the year, “Social Crisis Management in a 21st Century World” took place on October 17. Read on for some of the highlights, then head over to the Library 2.0 website to watch the recordings.
Exciting Classes for Spring and Summer 2019
Published: October 15, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
I can’t believe I don’t have to think about spring and summer classes this time around! I’m excited to be in my final semester working on my e-Portfolio but at the same time sad that my iSchool experience is (almost) over. I can still help you with your class choices though! There are several things to factor in when making your decision about how many units you want to take and which classes. This post should help you – I’ll highlight some classes that I think look interesting and make sure I cover all the key points about nailing down your schedule.
Eight Bonuses I Didn’t Expect From Doing an Internship
Published: October 8, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
I’m sure you already know internships are a great way to build valuable work experience while earning credits towards your degree. I was fortunate enough to participate in two internships, one at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA, followed by a summer internship at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Are You Ready to be an Online Student?
Published: September 24, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
For many of the incoming students to the SJSU School of Information, their experience with online classes is limited or non-existent. That was certainly true for me, having never taken any online classes before. This can be a cause for concern for students wondering what the online environment will be like, if they’ll miss the face-to-face interaction or just not really knowing what to expect. The iSchool provides many resources to showcase what life is like as a virtual student and to help you adjust to the new learning environment should you decide to enroll. In this article, I’ll share some of those resources and offer some points to consider in determining whether you’re ready to earn your degree on the World Wide Web.
20 Signs You’re an iSchool Student
Published: Monday, September 17, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
The hard work of this semester has only just begun, so I thought I’d keep it light this week with a post about being a student at the SJSU School of Information. I’m sure you’ll relate to a few of these signs from my list and hopefully chuckle at a couple of them too! If you’re a new student or thinking about applying to the iSchool, here’s a little preview of what’s in store.
Work-From-Home LIS Careers
Published: September 10, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
When you think of library and information science or archives and records administration careers they are usually tied to a place, that is, a library or archive! While there are many types of jobs physically located in a library or archives building, many LIS career options lend themselves to working from home.
SLASC Members Tour Disney Animation Research Library
Published: September 4, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Several members of the Special Libraries
Association Student Chapter (SLASC) had a rare opportunity to
go behind-the-scenes at the Disney Animation Research
Library (ARL) in Southern California. Motivated by a love of
Disney and a curiosity about special libraries, these iSchool students got together (some travelling a
considerable distance) to take a tour of a one-of-a-kind special
library. In this post, I feature some of the highlights and
insights of this tour from the participants. I also focus on the
professional development benefits of signing up for these
extracurricular activities and suggest ideas on how to take your
own tours of places that interest you.
New To iSchool? Gain Peer-to-peer Insight On Best Practices Here!
Published: Monday, August 27, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Welcome to the SJSU School of Information! Fall semester has just begun, so there’s no better time to create a success plan. As a student who is almost at the end of her program, I’m going to share some best practices and resources for new (and returning) students that helped me along the way. In this article, I’ll walk you through my recommendations for making the most of your iSchool experience from day one.
New Tool: Find An Elective Without A Core Course Prerequisite
Published: August 20, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
You should already be familiar with the suite of tools available to help you develop your focused plan as part of the Advising Toolkit, including the Unit Planning Tool and MLIS Course Tracker. These tools can help make your life easier as you plan each semester towards completing your degree. With a wealth of classes to choose from and multiple career pathways, it can sometimes be overwhelming to narrow down your class decisions, not to mention checking if the class is intensive, how many units it is and whether or not there are prerequisites. Luckily, a new tool has been developed to save you time when trying to figure out which advanced classes you can take, based on what core courses you still need to complete
Unexpected Benefits Of An MLIS Degree
Published: August 13, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
From backyard projects to beefing up your resume, we’re going to talk about the less conventional benefits of your future degree. I hope this blog post gives you the confidence to transfer the skills you develop in school to your next job application or venture into uncharted territory. At the very least, this article should make you proud of your personal development every day you work towards your MLIS or MARA degree.
Professional Associations: Info 200 Free Membership
Published: August 6, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
So you’re about to start your first semester as an iSchool student, you just enrolled in INFO 200 and you’re not sure what professional association(s) to join. Lucky for you, I’m here to walk you through the complimentary one-year membership available to all MLIS students in INFO 200. I’ll also share some reasons why you should consider becoming a member with multiple associations, including student and local chapters.
Get Social Media Savvy This Summer – Part 4: Blogs
Published: July 30, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Blogs are the original social media. Even before MySpace, which started as a blog style site, there was LiveJournal and Open Diary. We’re talking circa 1999 before y2k and broadband internet. In that sense, blogs have withstood the test of time. They can be very personal like diaries, but they can also be informational like academic journals (although never as formal or peer-reviewed). Some blogs include pictures, links and videos and others are just plain text. Most blogs allow comments (just like social media) but make sure you read the site rules before engaging in public discourse. The last thing I’d like to mention before diving into my lists of LIS blogs is that most bloggers make their contact information available should you wish to reach out to them.
Get Social Media Savvy This Summer – Part Three: Instagram
Published: July 23, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
In the third installment of the Social Media Summer series, we’re taking a look at Instagram. Instagram is a simple way to capture and share images and video. So why is Instagram relevant to an iSchool student? Well, aside from the fact that you can look at really cool pictures of libraries around the world, it provides a platform for visual learners to access information in a format that is best suited for them. If you are among the 40% of college students that are visual learners, which means you prefer to be taught through pictures and other visual aids, then Instagram might be the right social media choice for you.
Get Social Media Savvy This Summer – Part Two: Facebook
Published: July 16, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Welcome to the second chapter of the summer series Get Social Media Savvy. Last week we talked about many of the great resources available on Twitter. This week we’re going to discuss another popular social media platform: Facebook. It’s not just for looking at pictures of your cousin’s puppy in Wichita anymore; you can leverage the platform to expand your professional network, keep up-to-date on changes in your field and discover upcoming events and job opportunities.
Get Social Media Savvy This Summer – Part One: Twitter
Published: July 9, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Tweets. 280 characters, 500 million times per day from over 330 million active users. It’s like walking across the entire U.S. and having a brief dialogue with every member of the population. Admittedly, I tend to stray away from social media. It takes time to sift through the copious amounts of content to find what you’re looking for and quite frankly, like all of you, I’m busy! Well my friend, reader of this blog, you’re in luck. I’ve found some of the best LIS related Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, Instagram accounts and blogs for you to enjoy on your summer break (and beyond), starting with Twitter in this first post of the Get Social Media Savvy This Summer series.