Registration for Summer 2015 at SJSU SLIS and MARA is just a few weeks away. I hope you will consider taking one of the following new courses. I guarantee they will be fun and informative. We need a minimum of 12 students for each course to run.

Registration for Summer 2015 at SJSU SLIS and MARA is just a few weeks away. I hope you will consider taking one of the following new courses. I guarantee they will be fun and informative. We need a minimum of 12 students for each course to run.

287-10–Virtual Worlds: Moving Through Time and Space: U.S. Revolutionary War, Summer 2015

The San Jose State School of Information will offer an immersive learning course this summer in the virtual world of Second Life.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A CURRENT STUDENT TO TAKE THIS COURSE. You can take this course through the open education initiative. A minimum of 12 students is required for the course to run. For more information on how to sign up through the open education initiative, go to http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/programs/ischool-open-classes/enrollment

This course will immerse students in the United States Revolutionary War (1700-1790). Students will meet or become one of the fascinating characters of this period or a fictional character living in the U.S. Colonial Period. Take on the role of General George Washington, Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere, a fictional settler, Mary Musgrove or any number of historic figures as the class discusses and re-enacts historic events such as the Boston Tea Party, and signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Based on research conducted into the events taking place during the Colonial Period, students will create and participate in an immersive role-playing experience. The experience will introduce how a virtual world can create community and teach students an innovative way to serve as leaders in portraying knowledge, history and documents in creative and educational ways using virtual world technologies.

LIBR 287: Virtual Worlds — Florence: Birthplace of the Renaissance (SP 14), Spring 2014

This course will immerse students in Virtual Florence during the Renaissance (1350-1550). Many of the topics and issues we associate with the Renaissance era began in Florence. Because of its unique economy, writers, painters, architects, philosophers and business, Florence was a model of Renaissance culture. Students will meet or become the famous characters of that time period including the powerful Medici family, Niccolo Machiavelli, the intriguing Borgia family, and the talented artists Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and others. Based on research conducted into the events taking place during this period, students will create and participate in an immersive role-playing experience. The experience will prepare the students to demonstrate the ways in which librarians, and archivists, and museum curators can create community and serve as teachers and leaders in portraying knowledge, history and documents in creative and educational ways using virtual world technologies. If you have any questions, please contact me at lbell927@yahoo.com

RENAISSANCE FAIRE BY TUDORS:

Hear ye! Hear ye! San Jose State University Graduate School of Library and Information Science and Renaissance Island in the virtual world of Second Life are pleased to announce a joint Renaissance Faire to be held December 1-4, 2013. Come and hear students make presentations on the Tudor time period, see student-created displays on a variety of topics and enjoy all kinds of entertainment. Entertainment will include Renaissance period music, storytellers, jugglers, jousting, en garde and more! Faire keynoters include Dr. Pat Franks, Associate Professor at SJSU SLIS on VCARA (Virtual Center for Archives and Records) and the work they have done in Second Life for the past six years and how virtual world learning provides important skills for graduate students. Mary-Carol Lindbloom, Executive Director of the South Central New York Regional Library Cooperative , and owner of Renaissance Island will talk about Immersive Learning and the Role Libraries Can Play speaking about the example of Renaissance Island which has existed since February 2007. Put these dates on your calendars! For more information, please contact Lorelei Junot in Second Life or Lori Bell at lbelltudors@gmail.com or Snow Scarmon in Second Life or Chris Nelson at snowscarmon@gmail.com

This page will cover of SJSU SLIS classes that are currently being taught within the bounds of the Second Life Virtual World.

LIBR 287: Virtual Worlds: Life in Tudor Times, Fall 2013

Course Description: This course will immerse students in Virtual England during the reign of the Tudors (485-1603). Based on research conducted into the events taking place during the rule of Henry VII, through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, students will create and participate in an immersive role-playing experience. The experience will prepare the students to demonstrate the ways in which librarians and archivists can create community and serve as leaders in portraying knowledge, history and documents in creative and educational ways using virtual world technologies.