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 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.
VW vs VR “Smackdown” — Round 2 — YouTube
Enjoy the show!
Published: March 7, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Last October, VCARA hosted a Virtual Worlds vs Virtual Reality Smackdown event that was so popular, it was taken on the road–presented as part of the OpenSimulator Community Conference (OSCC).
If you missed the events on VCARA and OSCC, you can still learn from the presenters by viewing the YouTube Video. Enjoy!
Virtual Pioneers Tour in SL
February 23 at 5 p.m. SLT - Tour of Museum Island
Published: February 16, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Please join the Virtual Pioneers and John Noone (JohnNoone Resident) and Morgan Darkrose for a Tour of Museum Island.
Museum Island is an archaeological site, an artistic idea of Carlolello Zapatero an Italian artist & graphic designer. His passion for cultures and civilizations of all world, led to this creation of 3D historical and architectural art.
VW vs VR “Smackdown” — Round 2
Published: December 18, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
On December 14, 2019, eager spectators gathered to watch “Round 2″ of the VR vs VW Smackdown as part of the OpenSim Community Conference.
VCARA Storytelling Event: 3 Dickens Holiday Stories
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 11 a.m. - 12 noon (Pacific)
Published: November 28, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
Join the VCARA players for a reading of Three Charles Dickens Holiday Stories:
- The Child’s Story
- The Schoolboy’s Story
- What Christmas is as We Grow Older
This Storytelling Event will be presented in Live Voice. Feel free to get into the Victorian Spirit by dressing accordingly.
Tour of Nonprofit Commons Library–Fun was had by all!
Published: November 19, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
The Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration (VCARA) and the Community Virtual Library hosted a tour of the Nonprofit Commons Resource Library in Second Life on Sunday, November 17.
ACRL & VCARA Tour of Nonprofit Commons Library
Published: October 22, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
Title: Thankful for our
Communities
When: November 17, 2019 from 12:00
p.m. to 1:30 p.m. SLT (Pacific)
Where: Nonprofit Commons Resource Library in
Second Life
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cookie/103/107/21
VR vs VW in Education Smackdown
A Recap of the October 15th Main Event
Published: October 16, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
If you missed the VR / VW Smackdown, you missed not only an informative session—but quite an entertaining one. The two sparring partners—Alyse Dunavant-Jones enthusiastic about the current efforts in and possibilities for Virtual Reality in education and Bethany Winslow defending the track-record and value of experience in Virtual Worlds—did justice to their positions. By all account, the bout ended in a draw!
Virtual Reality vs Virtual Worlds “Smackdown”
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. SLT (Pacific)
Published: October 14, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
Join us for a lively debate on the merits of virtual worlds and virtual reality! Our first presenter, Alyse Dunavant-Jones, argues that “VR is the future, and the future is now!” Our second presenter, Bethany Winslow, cautions that “Regardless of what VR platforms are used in the future, designers of effective immersive learning with VR must know the history of virtual worlds in education as well as have some hands-on experience in using them.” The sparing partners will be moderated by Dr. Valerie Hill, the director of the Community Virtual Library in Second Life, Avacon, and Kitely.
2019-2020 is the Year of Virtual Reality Exploration in VCARA
Published: October 7, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
The Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration on SJSU’s iSchool Island has been hub of activity over the past 10 years. Just some of the events and activities being delivered with text and voice chat were: guest speakers, field trips, banned books exhibits, Halloween parties, Holiday balls, jousting events in Tudor Times, meet-ups at the Pub (or coffee bar for tea-totalers), conferences, and much more. Courses have been taught in this immersive environment, with many opportunities for educators to experiment with the tools that were available at the start and the many that became available over the years—including camera functions, media on a prim, and ability to customize avatars, build on the spot, transfer objects to other players.
The Best of Archiving’19: Lisbon Recap
Presented by Dr. Marie Vans
Published: September 10, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
Marie Vans, a senior research scientist with Hewlett-Packard Labs in Fort Collins, Colorado, and an iSchool alumna presented an informative and entertaining presentation recapping some of the events of the Archiving ’19 Conference held by The Society for Imaging Science & Technology at the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo in Lisbon, Portugal.
10th Annual VCARA Conference Recap
April 20, 2019, VCARA on iSchool Island in SL
Published: August 19, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks
The 10th annual VCARA conference held April 20, 2019, was a resounding success! Keynote presenters and those who shared mini-presentations reinforced our theme, “Sands of Time: Looking Back to Move Forward.”
10th Annual VCARA Conference Schedule – 4/23/19
Published: April 20, 2019 by Alyse Dunavant-Jones
Join VCARA for our 10th Annual VCARA Conference at 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. SLT (Pacific) Tuesday, April 23, 2019! This year’s theme is inspired by Ancient Egypt: “Sands of Time: Looking Back to Move Forward.” Come dressed as yourself or in your favorite Ancient Egyptian attire.
VCARA Participates: VWBPE Exhibit & Immersive Experience
Published: March 18, 2019 by Alyse Dunavant-Jones
Join VCARA for a unique immersive experience on iSchool Island (SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/47/83/33) in Second Life at 6 p.m. SLT (Pacific) on Monday, March 25, 2019. This event is part of the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education 2019 conference.