SLA in Virtual Worlds

Second Life update in the Chronicle of Higher Education

https://chroniclevitae.com/news/456-what-ever-happened-to-second-life?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

It seems that the Chronicle of Higher Education has just revisited SL, and their article "What Ever Happened to Second Life" complements the recent Second Life Second Look update (2013, by Sean Henry and Pat Alderman) by members of our group.

They state: Many scholars have migrated away to open-source alternatives, such as OpenSim, which offer developers more freedom in their programming. OpenSim also affords campuses “less reliance on Linden Labs, who have made some questionable, troublesome decisions about the system that made it less desirable for schools to have a presence,” Smith-Robbins says. “Beyond the moves to open source alternatives, I think that many schools found that Second Life had some issues that made it less attractive for education than we’d all originally thought.” - See more at: https://chroniclevitae.com/news/456-what-ever-happened-to-second-life?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en#sthash.rveVZhkR.dpuf

They state that SL still has "enormous unrealized potential".
They also note that SL has recently reinstated the academic discount for land rental.

 

#SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

Home  /  Blog  /  #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

#SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

September’s #SLAtalk will feature your ideas on how information professionals will effectively provide access to the increasingly changing nature of information.

We’re pleased to be joined by IET (the Institute of Engineering and Technology) who will be co-hosting and participating in #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical. IET is a valued exhibitor and sponsor of SLA events, so let’s show them a warm welcome to the #SLAtalk world! (follow their new handle: @IETInnovates)

When:

Tuesday, September 10th, 17:30 UTC (13:30 EDT / 10:30 PDT)

Questions to answer:

1. Open Access: How is open access influencing and revolutionizing the way users access information? (first 15 minutes)
2. Analytical Skills: How do you as an information professional assess the credibility of new information and/or resources? What trends do you see in information needs? (second 15 minutes)
3. Information Discovery Trends: How do student researchers or young professionals discover, use and share information? Are there telling differences between new & veteran researchers? (third 15 minutes)
4. Big Data: Do you play a role in sharing, organizing, and analyzing ‘Big Data’? Do you think it will live up to its hype in the coming years? (last 15 minutes)

- See more at: http://www.sla.org/slatalk-lets-get-technical-iet/#sthash.EpfHyhcb.dpuf

Home  /  Blog  /  #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

#SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

September’s #SLAtalk will feature your ideas on how information professionals will effectively provide access to the increasingly changing nature of information.

We’re pleased to be joined by IET (the Institute of Engineering and Technology) who will be co-hosting and participating in #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical. IET is a valued exhibitor and sponsor of SLA events, so let’s show them a warm welcome to the #SLAtalk world! (follow their new handle: @IETInnovates)

When:

Tuesday, September 10th, 17:30 UTC (13:30 EDT / 10:30 PDT)

Questions to answer:

1. Open Access: How is open access influencing and revolutionizing the way users access information? (first 15 minutes)
2. Analytical Skills: How do you as an information professional assess the credibility of new information and/or resources? What trends do you see in information needs? (second 15 minutes)
3. Information Discovery Trends: How do student researchers or young professionals discover, use and share information? Are there telling differences between new & veteran researchers? (third 15 minutes)
4. Big Data: Do you play a role in sharing, organizing, and analyzing ‘Big Data’? Do you think it will live up to its hype in the coming years? (last 15 minutes)

- See more at: http://www.sla.org/slatalk-lets-get-technical-iet/#sthash.EpfHyhcb.dpuf

Home  /  Blog  /  #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

#SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

September’s #SLAtalk will feature your ideas on how information professionals will effectively provide access to the increasingly changing nature of information.

We’re pleased to be joined by IET (the Institute of Engineering and Technology) who will be co-hosting and participating in #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical. IET is a valued exhibitor and sponsor of SLA events, so let’s show them a warm welcome to the #SLAtalk world! (follow their new handle: @IETInnovates)

When:

Tuesday, September 10th, 17:30 UTC (13:30 EDT / 10:30 PDT)

Questions to answer:

1. Open Access: How is open access influencing and revolutionizing the way users access information? (first 15 minutes)
2. Analytical Skills: How do you as an information professional assess the credibility of new information and/or resources? What trends do you see in information needs? (second 15 minutes)
3. Information Discovery Trends: How do student researchers or young professionals discover, use and share information? Are there telling differences between new & veteran researchers? (third 15 minutes)
4. Big Data: Do you play a role in sharing, organizing, and analyzing ‘Big Data’? Do you think it will live up to its hype in the coming years? (last 15 minutes)

- See more at: http://www.sla.org/slatalk-lets-get-technical-iet/#sthash.EpfHyhcb.dpuf

Home  /  Blog  /  #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

#SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical

September’s #SLAtalk will feature your ideas on how information professionals will effectively provide access to the increasingly changing nature of information.

We’re pleased to be joined by IET (the Institute of Engineering and Technology) who will be co-hosting and participating in #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical. IET is a valued exhibitor and sponsor of SLA events, so let’s show them a warm welcome to the #SLAtalk world! (follow their new handle: @IETInnovates)

When:

Tuesday, September 10th, 17:30 UTC (13:30 EDT / 10:30 PDT)

Questions to answer:

1. Open Access: How is open access influencing and revolutionizing the way users access information? (first 15 minutes)
2. Analytical Skills: How do you as an information professional assess the credibility of new information and/or resources? What trends do you see in information needs? (second 15 minutes)
3. Information Discovery Trends: How do student researchers or young professionals discover, use and share information? Are there telling differences between new & veteran researchers? (third 15 minutes)
4. Big Data: Do you play a role in sharing, organizing, and analyzing ‘Big Data’? Do you think it will live up to its hype in the coming years? (last 15 minutes)

- See more at: http://www.sla.org/slatalk-lets-get-technical-iet/#sthash.EpfHyhcb.dpuf

September’s #SLAtalk will feature your ideas on how information professionals will effectively provide access to the increasingly changing nature of information.

We’re pleased to be joined by IET (the Institute of Engineering and Technology) who will be co-hosting and participating in #SLAtalk: Let’s Get Technical. IET is a valued exhibitor and sponsor of SLA events, so let’s show them a warm welcome to the #SLAtalk world! (follow their new handle: @IETInnovates)

When:

Tuesday, September 10th, 17:30 UTC (13:30 EDT / 10:30 PDT)

Questions to answer: 

1. Open Access: How is open access influencing and revolutionizing the way users access information? (first 15 minutes)
2. Analytical Skills: How do you as an information professional assess the credibility of new information and/or resources? What trends do you see in information needs? (second 15 minutes)
3. Information Discovery Trends: How do student researchers or young professionals discover, use and share information? Are there telling differences between new & veteran researchers? (third 15 minutes)
4. Big Data: Do you play a role in sharing, organizing, and analyzing ‘Big Data’? Do you think it will live up to its hype in the coming years? (last 15 minutes)

 See more at: http://www.sla.org/slatalk-lets-get-technical-iet/#sthash.EpfHyhcb.dpuf

 

 

2013 SLA Virtual Conference

Couldn't make it to every session you wanted to at SLA 2013? Weren't able to make the trip to San Diego? No problem! The 2013 SLA Virtual Conference features some of the most popular sessions at SLA 2013 in San Diego.

The virtual conference is scheduled for 25-26 September and will highlight topics such as best practices in competitive intelligence, strengthening your role as a critical business asset, ninja skills for librarians, and more. Registration options include the full 2-day conference, 1-day packages, and individual sessions.

Check out the full conference session schedule! http://bit.ly/SLAvirtual

 

Second Life Update (2013)

Sean Henry and Pat Alderman, members of the VWAC, have just posted a Second Life update. The report entitled "Second Life Second Look" is found as a Word document within the Key Activities History section of the Virtual Worlds wiki site.

Virtual Tool Matrix

The VWAC has posted a matrix of collaboration tools used by our members, along with some information to help you select the best tools for your particular needs. Please take a look and help us update this site.  The matrix is found on our wiki at http://wiki.sla.org/display/SLASECONDLIFE/SLA+Virtual+Worlds+-+Collaboration+Tools

 

Do you know about UKLibChat? A virtual discussion chat forum.

#UKLibChat is a monthly discussion group that takes place on Twitter, usually from 6.30 to 8.30pm (UK time) on a Tuesday. It provides a way for information professionals across distances to have a constructive dialog about issues and concerns facing our profession.  Volunteers compile the answers and post the dialog later. 

The next UKLibChat will be Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm GMT.  (That’s 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern Time or 10:30 am – 12:30 pm Pacific Time, etc. Or, find your time zone here.)

For more information visit their website! http://uklibchat.wordpress.com/

 

New SLA Virtual Worlds Advisory Council members, new initiatives

 

In January 2013, the SLA Board of Directors approved the new council:

• David Stern -- Chair: Term 2012-2013
• Beth Kraemer -- Term: 2012-2013
• Aileen Maren Marshall -- Term: 2011-2012
• Kevin Adams -- Term: 2013
• Sean Henry -- Term: 2013
• Suzanne Scott -- Term: 2013
• Sara Davis -- Term: 2013 -2014
• Anthony Marrocolla -- Term: 2013-2014

• Jill Hurst-Wahl -- Board Liaison
• Jeff Leach -- Staff Council Member

Friends:

• Pat Alderman (SL: Biblio Latte) -- Co-Chair: Term 2011-2012
• Christy Confetti Higgins (SL: Violet Portola) -- Co-Chair: Term 2011-2012
• Honary member: Cindy Hill (SL: Sydney Delphin) -- Chair, Term: 2009-2010 

 

Our initial efforts will be:

1. Web site page to describe the major collaboration tools
      Beth, Suzanne and Aileen are working on both a summary of the recent survey and a web site with explanations and advice about the best tools to use for particular purposes. We had an interesting virtual meeting using Google+ Hangout.

2. Bridge Conference progress (greatest hits replays from the Annual Conference for distance education)
      Our group will be one of the participants in this exploration of virtual conferences.

RMSLA Virtual Lunch, Sept 20, 2012: U.S. Private Company Research

Join RMSLA and SLA members and guests for our upcomingVirtual Lunch, “U.S. Private Company Research: Research and Analysis,”with presenter Amelia Kassel.

Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012

Time: 12:00 noon, Mountain Daylight Time

About the Program: Researching company information is vitally important toclients served by information professionals. Unlike public companies, U.S.private companies are not required to disclose financial information norare they regulated in the same way. Nevertheless, there are numerous sourcesfor piecing together information about a private company. This webinarcovers a selection of proprietary and Web-based sources and includes tipsfor digging more deeply to generate those often needed results that arecritical for competitive intelligence, market research, and due diligence.

About Amelia Kassel: Amelia Kassel is President of MarketingBase, specializingin industry, company, and competitive and market intelligence researchsince 1982. Amelia holds a Master’s Degree in Library Science (1971, UCLA)and combines expertise in Internet research and fee-based databases withknowledge of business and marketing strategies. As a recognized authorand international speaker, she conducts seminars for associations and conferences. Her successful email-based Mentor Program is tailored for independent andcorporate information professionals. Amelia has written many articlesfor Searcher and other information industry publications.

 Register! Reserve your seat by registering for the session at thislink: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/949573568

Learning 2.0 Virtual Conference

The Learning 2.0 virtual conference is just around the corner (August 20 - 24 http://www.learning20.com). We have an incredible lineup of keynote speakers and some GREAT practitioner sessions--AND there is still time for you to sign up to present (we hope you will do so)!

Learning 2.0 is a free conference and is held online, in multiple time zones, over the course of five days. It is a unique chance to participate in a global conversation on rethinking teaching and learning in the age of the Internet. It is organized in conjunction with Connected Educator Month, and the conference is based on a highly inclusive model for participation and designed to encourage peer professional development--which means we want you to come and learn from each other! The conference includes an all-day virtual unconference (SocialEdCon online!) as well as a special educational start-up "pitchfire" event. Subject strands include changes in the classroom, in student learning, in teacher personal and professional growth, in schools, and in pedagogy.

 We have an incredible set of keynote speakers for you: Julie Evans, Gina Bianchini, Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Lee Rainie, Sugata Mitra, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, Michelle Pacansky-Brock, Marc Prensky, Audrey Watters, Yong Zhao. As well, there are pre- and post-conference interviews with David Deubelbeiss, Lee Rainie, Alfie Kohn, Gary Stager, Stephen Downes, Howard Gardner, Rudy Crew, Roger Schank, Paulo Blikstein, Rob Fried, Gordon Dryden, Tony Wagner, and Michael Strong.

Monday(August 20):

• All Day: SocialEdCon (Virtual Style)

Tuesday (August 21):

• Conference Sessions

• 11am Eastern: Keynote with David Warlick

• 2pm Eastern: Keynote with Marc Prensky

•4pm Eastern: Keynote with Michelle Pacansky-Brock •

 8pm Eastern: Interview with Rob Fried on Passion in Education

Wednesday (August 22):

• Conference Sessions • 9am Eastern: Keynote with Heidi Hayes Jacobs

• 11am Eastern: Keynote with Lee Rainie • 1pm Eastern: Keynote with Esther Wojcicki

• 7pm Eastern: Virtual "EdIncubator" Pitchfire Event with Startup Weekend Edu & Khalid Smith (2 hours)

 Thursday (August 23):

• Conference Sessions • 11am Eastern: Keynote with Gina Bianchini

 • 1pm Eastern: Keynote with Yong Zhou

• 5pm Eastern: Keynote Panel on Technology and Librarians with Gwyneth Jones, David Loertscher, Michelle Luhtala, Shannon Miller, and Joyce Valenza.

• 8pm Eastern: Interview with Gordon Dryden on The New Learning Revolution

Friday (August 24):

• Conference Sesions • 11am Eastern: Keynote with Audrey Watters

• 1pm Eastern: Keynote with Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach

• 4pm Eastern: Keynote with Sugata Mitra

ATTENDING: The conference is free to attend. The conference schedule and links for each virtual session will be posted at http://www.learning20.com during the week before the conference begins, with listings by time zones for anywhere in the world. The conference sessions are being held in Blackboard Collaborate (formerly Elluminate), and can be accessed live from any personal computer. (All sessions will also be recorded and posted quickly after the conference.) To check that your computer is ready to use Blackboard Collaborate, please click HERE. "Step 1" will indicate if you have a version of Java that is compatible, and then "Step 2" lets you actually go into a test session. We encourage you to do this in advance of the conference. If you have any difficulties, you can ask for help in the WeCollaborate.com user community.

PRESENTING: The Learning 2.0 Conference is a unique chance to participate in a global conversation on rethinking teaching and learning in the age of the Internet. Subject strands include changes in the classroom (social media, 1:1 computing, "flipped classrooms," digital literacy, maker spaces, gaming, open educational resources, digital textbooks), in student learning (individualized learning, student-directed learning, "hacking" education, personal success plans, ePortfolios, and building a digital presence), in teacher personal and professional growth (lead learning, personal learning networks, peer / open / self-directed PD), in schools (virtual and online schooling, mobile learning, blended learning, MOOCs, immersive environments, learning spaces, entrepreneurship, school leadership, big data, assessment models), and in pedagogy (from teaching to learning, social learning, social / educational networking, passion-based learning, learning how to learn, brain-based learning). A full strand list is available 
HERE. The call for presentation proposals and instructions are now live and can be found 
HERE. Proposed presentations can be found HERE. Accepted presentations will be found HERE.

 VOLUNTEERING: The volunteers are the heroes of this kind of virtual, inclusive conference. They help to make sure that beginning presenters feel comfortable knowing someone is there in the virtual room to help, and they also provide encouragement to presenters and attendees. To receive more information about volunteering, please join the volunteer group HERE. Special volunteer training is provided!

 

Library 2.012 Call for Advisory Board, Partners, and Sponsors!

We are pleased to announce the Library 2.012 worldwide virtual conference, October 3 - 5, 2012. This free conference is being held online, in multiple time zones, over the course of two days (three actual calendar days when including all time zones). The Library 2.012 conference is a unique chance to participate in a global conversation on the current and future state of libraries.

To be kept informed of the latest conference news and updates, please join the Library 2.0 network and conference website at http:/www.library2012.com. Conference strands include physical and virtual learning spaces, evolving professional roles in today's world, organizing and creating information, changing delivery methods, user-centered access, and mobile and geo-social information environments.

This email is a call for the international advisory board, for non-commercial partner organizations, and for sponsors! Links for responding are below.

International Advisory Board:

Anyone can apply to be a member of the international advisory board. Advisory board members are recognized on the website and are asked to:

• Promote both participation and attendance at the conference

• Help us find additional partner organizations in their region(s)

• Help support and potentially train presenters in their geographical region and local languages

 • If possible, help moderate sessions during the actual conference

As a conference that is focused on being "inclusive," our desire is to have international attendees see this as a truly world-wide and not a North-America-centric event, and to see themselves as full participants and presenters, not just the audience.

To sign up for the advisory board, please make sure you have joined the Library 2.0 online network, and then join the advisory board group specifically at http://www.library20.com/group/advisory-board-library-2-012.

Conference Partner Organizations:

Whether you are a small school library or a multi-national organization, we want to encourage you to become a conference partner. You must be non-commercial and primarily or substantively focused on libraries, librarians, librarianship, or library programs to be approved. Once approved, your organization will be listed with a link, logo, and a short description; and you will be provided with a "spotlight" speaker session in the conference.

Our goal for the conference is to have it continue to be a milestone event, bringing together organizations and individuals from all over the world. We recognize that much (if not most!) of the outreach for this conference will come from libraries, schools, or organizations who advertise the conference to their memberships, and we want to recognize and "reward" those who do this!

There are no financial obligations for being a partner organization--all we ask is that you actively promote the conference to your membership and network, and encourage participation as well as presentations and submissions.

To apply to be a conference partner organization, please make sure you have joined the Library 2.0 online network, and then join the partner group specifically at http://www.library20.com/group/conference-partners-2012.

Conference Sponsors:

There are opportunities for commercial sponsorship of Library 2.012, and both recognition and authentic appreciation for financial support will be given to those who choose to sponsor. Sponsorship levels and benefits can be discussed with Steve Hargadon directly at [email protected] or 916-283-7901.

More Information:

A call for presentations will be issued mid-May, and we will also be looking for conference volunteers closer to the conference dates. The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at San José State University (http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/) is the founding conference sponsor. SLIS is the largest accredited library and information science program in the world. The nationally-ranked school offers two fully online master’s degrees, a fully online certificate program, and a doctoral program: Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), Master of Archives and Records Administration (MARA), Post-Master’s Certificate in Library and Information Science, and the San José Gateway PhD Program. Learn more at: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu.

Dr. Sandy Hirsh, the director of SLIS, is co-chair of the conference. Dr. Hirsh has been a faculty member at several academic institutions, as a librarian in academic and special libraries, and more than a decade in leadership positions with Silicon Valley's leading global companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and LinkedIn. She is a recognized advocate for library services, has an extensive record of research in the field, and has been actively involved in leadership roles with professional associations.

Steve Hargadon, the founder of Classroom 2.0 (http://www.classroom20.com) and the Global Education Conference (http://www.globaleducationconference.com), is the founding co-chair of the Library 2.012 conference. Steve hosts the popular FutureofEducation.com interview series, and has consulted on social media and education for PBS, Intel, Ning, Microsoft, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, CoSN, MERLOT, the U.S. State Department, the and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology. We are looking forward to the second year of this this momentous event, and to your participation!