VCARA Blog: Community and Engagement
VCARA Blog: Community and Engagement
This is a historical glimpse of past VCARA information. For the latest information, and how to follow us on social media, please visit our blog at https://ischoolblogs.sjsu.edu/vcara/
VCARA New Website & Blog Location
Published: October 31, 2023 by Bethany Winslow
From being part of Second Life’s 20th birthday celebration, to exploring new virtual worlds with the VR Exploders, keep up with all the latest happenings with the Virtual Center for Archives & Records Administration (VCARA).
Learn more about what we do, how to get started, and follow our social media by visiting our new website and blog - https://ischoolblogs.sjsu.edu/vcara/blog/
Join us April 25 at the Fantasy Faire in Second Life
Literary Festival with Storytelling and Dramatic Performances, Discussions, and more
Published: April 23, 2021 by Dr. Pat Franks
Join the members of the Community Virtual Library (CVL) and SJSU iSchool’s Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration (VCARA) on Sunday, April 25, for a reading of two of our favorite fairy tales:
- The Ugly Duckling, a literary fairy tale written by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Anderson;
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses, a German fairy tale collected and published by the Brothers Grimm.
XR Women and the iLRN Conference
Enjoying Events on the iLRN Virbela Campus
Published: March 27, 2021 by Dr. Pat Franks
The Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) is an international organization of developers, educators, and research professionals collaborating to develop the scientific, technical, and applied potential of immersive learning.
14 Reasons Why VW is Better than VR
Presented at VWBPE Conference by Marie Vans
Published: March 26, 2021 by Dr. Pat Franks
On March 19, Marie Van’s presentation, 14 Reasons why Virtual Worlds are Still Better than Social Virtual Reality Worlds was streamed live as part of the VWBPE 2021: Reconnaissance Conference.
iLRN Virtual Campus Celebrates XR Women
Virtual Worlds Women--don't be left out of the Virtual Reality Conversation!
Published: March 10, 2021 by Dr. Pat Franks
XR Women is a global collective of women and allies in XR. XR Women is committed to educating, connecting, uplifting, and inspiring women working in XR and those who have yet to join the industry. XR Women connects women with each other, shares opportunities, provides resources, and guides with insight.
Charles Dickens’ Christmas Reading
Listen to the audio recording
Published: December 17, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
The Community Virtual Library is a “real” library with branches in multiple virtual worlds–include virtual reality environments.
Recap of VR Exploders Group Visit to AltSpace
Published: November 25, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks
Members of the VR Exploders group entered AltSpace VR on Friday, November 20, 2020, and met at the CVL build and then enjoyed the psychedelic Shiva experience. If you haven’t tried AltSpace yet–visit https://altvr.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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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:
Spotlight: VCARA Student Resource Center
Published: September 15, 2016
Newbies and veterans alike can find helpful resources at the VCARA Student Resource Center on iSchool Island in Second Life.
You’ve created a Second Life account–taken the brave leap, downloaded a viewer, logged in, and explored iSchool Island.
Your navigation is a little wobbly, your avatar isn’t quite what you’d like, and you’re struggling with Second Life’s learning curve.
VCARA can help!
VCARA for Newbies
Published: August 17, 2016
VCARA offers many ways to participate, and anyone with an Internet connection can access our webcast recordings and follow us through social media to discover the virtual worlds and online learning research and events we share.