VCARA Blog
VCARA Blog
This is an archive of older VCARA posts. The current website and blog location is https://ischoolblogs.sjsu.edu/vcara/, but the best way to connect is by joining the SJSU iSchool VCARA Discord channel.
The iSchool has hosted educational and social virtual world events as part of our Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration (VCARA) since 2009. VCARA began in our MARA Program, but is open to any interested iSchool students, faculty, or staff. Managed by Bethany Winslow (Director of Online Learning) with participation by current students, alumni, and other virtual world colleagues, the VCARA website, blog, and Discord channel highlights the activities on our region in Second Life and other locations. We also collaborate with other educators and information professionals in-world, and we explore different social virtual reality platforms with our VR Exploders Club monthly outings. Join us!
VCARA SCREAM Quest: Archival Nightmare in Colonial Boston
Published: June 7, 2017
On May 8, 2017, VCARA launched and hosted a tour of its first SCREAM (Students Creating REal Archival Memories) Quest: Archival Nightmare in Colonial Boston.
INFO 298 Special Studies: Join VCARA, Get Credit!
Published: May 17, 2017
Join the fall 2017 VCARA team to help plan and participate in the events to take place during the 2017-2018 academic year.
8th Annual VCARA Conference: Recap
Published: April 28, 2017
The 8th Annual VCARA Conference’s theme was Virtual Worlds: Through Space and Time. A huge thanks for an excellent turnout! Presentation recordings are available.
8th Annual VCARA Conference – April 19, 2017
Published: April 3, 2017
The conference will begin at the Ampitheatre on iSchool Island in Second Life. SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/45/123/33
Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education 3/29/17-4/1/17
Published: March 29, 2017
Join VCARA March 29 – April 1, 2017 as we attend, exhibit, and present at the 10th Annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE) virtual conference in Second Life. The 2017 theme is Legacy, and the conference is located at the SL URL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VWBPE%20Gateway/178/128/38.
VCARA Webcast: Metaverse Libraries – 2/28/17
Published: February 7, 2017
Join Dr. Valerie Hill, Dr. Marie Vans, and Alyse Dunavant-Jones on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 @ 6pm (Pacific) as they discuss Metaverse Libraries, an initiative the three founded through their mutual interest in connecting virtual world communities.
VCARA Meeting – 1/30/17
Published: January 23, 2017
VCARA is kicking off for spring 2017!
Join us for the first meeting of the semester on January 30, 2017 @ 6pm (Pacific) as we discuss virtual worlds, information science, and plan events for the semester. You’ll find good company, networking and learning opportunities, and more!
VCARA’s SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/43/73/33
VCARA Orientations – Spring 2017
Published: January 3, 2017
New to Second Life or VCARA?
Join VCARA members Alyse Dunavant-Jones (alysedunavantjones) and Marie Vans (amvans Lapis) to learn Second Life basics and explore VCARA’s offerings:
INFO 298 Special Studies: Join VCARA, Get Credit!
Published: November 17, 2016
INFO 298: Special Studies Immersive Environment Project (2-3 credit opportunity), Spring 2017
The VCARA team is looking for 3-5 MLIS and MARA students to develop and implement a plan to increase and improve activities taking place on iSchool Island in Second Life during the Spring 2017 term.
Book Launch & Holiday Party December 6th: Let’s Celebrate!
Published: November 8, 2016
Join VCARA on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 from 6-7 p.m. SLT (Pacific), as we celebrate the launch of the recently released book, Teaching and Learning in Virtual Environments.
Spotlight: The Prince of Whales – Traveling Exhibit
Published: November 2, 2016
Immerse yourself in Tiamat Windstorm’s study of politics, public engagement, censorship, and criticism surrounding late Georgian political humor!
Visit VCARA’s U-See-Em Building and check out the traveling exhibit “The Prince of Whales: Flawed Royalty and the Joy of Political Cartooning in the Mis-United Kingdom of George IV 1785-1830”.
VCARA Training: Creating a Virtual Quest – 11/7/16
Published: October 10, 2016
The speakers will share ways to create a quest with tips on promoting, troubleshooting, and interacting on a global scale.
Join Brant Knutzen (Blended Learning Consultant for the Education University of Hong Kong) and Dr. Valerie Hill (President of the Community Virtual Library) as they discuss how to create and host a virtual quest.
VCARA Panel Discussion – 10/18/16
Published: September 29, 2016
VCARA presents Real World Advantages Through Virtual World Experiences: Learning, Networking, e-Portfolio Building, and Interviewing.
Join Lori Bell, Alyse Dunavant-Jones, Jeni Crummey, and Marie Vans as they discuss how SJSU iSchool instructors and students have used virtual worlds to learn, teach, make connections, and even find a job!
Upcoming Events: September-October in VCARA
Published: September 20, 2016
Virtual worlds, virtual archives, avatars, and more … mark your calendar for these fun events!
Upcoming Events: August-September in VCARA
Published: August 23, 2016
VCARA has officially kicked off for fall 2016! Join us for tours, networking, freebies, and other resources.
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.
VCARA on Social Media
Published: August 3, 2016
Find VCARA on your favorite social media networks to keep up with our latest news and events!
Mnemosyne Seminario: The Face of VCARA
Published: July 27, 2016
If you’ve encountered VCARA, you’ve likely encountered an alluring visage by the name Mnemosyne Seminario (pron. NEM-AWS-uh-NEE SE-mi-NAH-ree-OH).
CVL News: Summer Exhibit in Second Life
Published: July 20, 2016
The Community Virtual Library (CVL) in Second Life is wrapping up their “Libraries and Librarians in Virtual Worlds” summer exhibit with two live events.
Virtual Meets Physical: VCARA in Print
Published: July 13, 2016
SJSU’s King Library has other “virtual worlds” titles, electronic and in print, available to SJSU students and staff.