VCARA Blog
VCARA Blog
Our school hosts virtual world events as part of our Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration. Managed by Dr. Pat Franks and written by current students and alumni, this blog highlights lectures and events held on iSchool Island in Second Life, including the annual VCARA Conference. This blog also reports relevant events hosted by other education and information groups in virtual worlds. For more information about VCARA and its members, visit our website: https://sjsuvcara.weebly.com/
XR: Bridging the Gap Research Symposium Recap
Published: October 25, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
The first annual research symposium was held October 24, 2020, in the XR Research Center, a part of the Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration on SJSU’s iSchool island in Second Life.
Keynote presenter, Dr. Donna Z. Davis, shared her thoughts on the promise and challenges ahead for those seeking to use virtual reality in a way that promotes equity and inclusion (figure 1).
XR: Bridging the Gap Research Symposium – 10/24/20
Birds of a Feather Sessions: Accessibility, Environments, Networking
Published: October 19, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
XR: Bridging the Gap Research Symposium, 10/24/20, 9 a.m. – 12 noon SLT (Pacific)
XR Bridging the Gap Research Symposium 10/24/20
Meet the Keynotes
Published: October 17, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Symposium 9 a.m. – 12 noon SLT (Pacific) | Keynotes 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Donna Z. Davis, PhD, APR / Tredi Felisimo in
SL
Associate Professor and Director
Strategic Communication Master’s Program
Oregon Reality (OR) Lab
University of Oregon
School of Journalism * Communication | Portland
XR: Bridging the Gap Research Symposium
Join us October 24, 2020
Published: October 14, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/217/128/33
Recap of VR Exploders Meeting in VRChat
Published: September 22, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
On the third Friday of each month, members of the VR Exploders Group (no, that’s not a typo) explore a different virtual reality platform. Last week, on September 18, 2020, they met up in VRChat to compare notes on the experience.
Since a 2019 survey of users of both Virtual Reality and Virtual Worlds revealed that 64% of respondents want a platform to encourage educational purposes (not predominantly social/gaming), the group keep the education use of the platform foremost in their minds.
XR: Bridging the Gap Research Symposium
Hosted by the VCARA, iSchool Island, Second Life
Published: September 9, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Plan now to attend the XR: Bridging the Gap Research Symposium on October 24, 2020, from 9 a.m. to noon SLT (Pacific Time).
Venue: VCARA’s XR Research Center in SL
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/216/96/37
The goal of this symposium is to provide a venue for members of Virtual Worlds, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality communities to share accomplishments and challenges and to learn from one another.
Virtual Worlds Sept. 5 MOOC Event Recap
Published: September 6, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Marie Vans (iSchool alumna), Bethany Winslow (SJSU eCampus instructional designer), and Dr. Pat Franks (MARA program coordinator) hosted a tour of VCARA and an overview of the upcoming XR Symposium on Saturday, September 5.
Virtual Worlds MOOC Event – Sat., Sept. 5, 2020
Published: September 4, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
You are invited to attend two SJSU events on Saturday, September 5, 2020.
The first event takes place in ZOOM. Details follow:
Saturday September 5
8:30 a.m. SLT; 11:30 a.m. Eastern
BethanyTheVirtualVersion
Newbies in Second Life Meetup
Planning Meeting for VCARA’s XR Symposium
Published: August 2, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
If you’re interested in becoming involved, please join us.
When: Tuesday, August 4, 5 p.m. SLT
(pacific)
Where: VCARA’s XR Research Center
SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/216/96/37
Linden Lab Acquired by Investors
The Promise is: Second Life will Continue to Expand
Published: July 14, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
No one knows for sure but the overall message is don’t worry–Second Life will continue to grow.
Read more here. We’ll keep you informed as we learn more.
iRLN 2020 intro to VCARA & CVL
Published: June 27, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Bethany Winslow welcomed visitors to the VCARA/CVL Showcase at the iRLN Conference with a video greeting.
She is speaking from the VCARA XR Research Lab on the iSchool island. If you’d like to visit in Second Life, contact Dr. Pat Franks for an appointment and/or instructions.
iRLN 2020 Conference
All this week!
Published: June 22, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
The Immersive Learning Research Network is hosting its first conference totally “virtually” this week. Most events take place on the Virbela VR Campus. Visit the iRLN website for details.
VR Hangout at Virbela
Friday, June 19, 2020 at 5 p.m. Pacific
Published: June 18, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
The VCARA XR Interest Group is meeting tomorrow in VR.
XR Research Center Announced
A VCARA iSchool Initiative
Published: May 19, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Dr. Marie Vans and Dr. Pat Franks conducted a tour of the new XR Research Center added to the VCARA build on SJSU’s iSchool Island.
Recap: Reading of 1001 Nites March 29, 2020
Fantasy Faire LitFest in Second Life
Published: May 2, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Those who attend the March 29, 2020 reading of The Tale of the Trader and the Jinni (as translated by Richard F. Burton) as part of the Fantasy Faire LitFest in Second Life were transformed back in time not only through words but also their surroundings.
Tale of the Trader & the Jinni from ‘The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night’
A CVL/VCARA Live Storytelling Event in Second Life
Published: April 23, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
When: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 @ 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. SLT (pacific)
Where: Fantasy Faire LitFest 2020 in Second Life, Drifts of Anamnesis (SLURL to general area: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Drifts%20of%20Anamnesis/115/192/61)
Are you VR ready? If so… Be there Together 4/17/20
This is a 'group' event in Altspace and you must be invited.
Published: April 15, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Not all Virtual Reality Platforms are alike. This year has been one of exploration for the “Friends of VCARA.”
AltSpace is one of the platforms high on our list for a number of reasons:
Recap VCARA Spring 2020 VR Field Trip
Published: April 4, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Time travel in Virtual Worlds is so much easier and faster than in real life–and thankfully we don’t have to worry about social distancing!
Friday, April 3–in only one hour–the “Friends of VCARA” visited:
Survey Says! Developing Criteria for VR Courses
Recap of Panel Presentation 3/27/20 @ VWBPE Conference
Published: March 28, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
The panel presentation, “Survey Says! Developing Criteria for VR Courses,” drew a large crowd and was a huge success! While the results of the Survey conducted in Fall 2019 have not yet been published, preliminary findings were shared through this panel presentation.
VWBPE Conference–Panel on Criteria for VR/VW
Published: March 26, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
This past year the VCARA team has turned their attention to comparing the capabilities of Virtual Worlds (e.g., VCARA and CVL) to social Virtual Reality (e.g., Sansar and VR Chat).
Attend the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference session, Survey Says! Developing Criteria for VR Courses, to learn of the results of our preliminary research.