As you may be aware, Eduserv Research (formerly the Eduserv Foundation) no longer funds virtual world stuff. This isn’t due to any derogatory feeling about virtual worlds, or the research they have funded, on their part, but due to changes in internal policy directions. It’s a pity – Eduserv have funded a nice array of projects, and through conferences (massively over-subscribed) and funding calls (also massively over-subscribed) lifted a lid on a lot of interest, and actual activity, in virtual world use in UK academia. They’ve also pontificated, blogged and disseminated on a wide range of virtual world issues – Art Fossett’s blog has over 300 postings, and the eFoundations blog has some recent reflective material too.
So kudos to Andy, Pete and Ed for their Heineken ethos (i.e. refreshing the projects other funding bodies cannot reach).
So, what next for Virtual World Watch? Well, it’s carrying on through 2010 and 2011, at least. VWW is a part-time service run by one person, so it doesn’t cost megabucks to run. There’s sufficient momentum in the use of virtual worlds within UK academia, and enough interesting things happening (not just technically and academically, but socio-economically) to make it worthwhile. And it fits in with my business plan for the next few years.
Anyway, having previously worked on one too many digital info projects which are gathering dust online, it’s nice to see how long such a project or service can be kept active, useful and relevant for.
Funding and advisory group
To maintain perspective (as opposed to one person going off on his own tangent) and replace the support and steerage Eduserv have given over the years, an advisory group of academics is being formed. These people will, well, advise VWW on what it does and what directions it takes, as well as advise on the political situations that regularly face VWW. Academia. Politics. *sigh*
Funding. The initial temptation was to change the name to the “Bank of Virtual World Watch” and approach HM government for a multi-billion pound bailout. This seems to work for others. Instead, VWW is keen to try different models of funding for this service, so the rest of 2010 and 2011 gives plenty of opportunities for this.
Current snapshot (number #8) and other reports
VWW is currently working on three reports/snapshots in parallel. This is not good 
- Report: “What is virtual world research? What is it not? Hmmm?” The troublesome hangover from the end of last year, which has turned into a reflective piece about the nature of virtual world research. This is (finally) coming out very soon. Thanks especially to contributers who wondered what the heck happened to their submissions.
- Report: “Swimming to Jerusalem: four years of virtual world trend-spotting.” Partially a “final report” for Eduserv, and partially a reflective piece on the last few years of watching trends and developments. Out at the end of March/start of April.
- Snapshot #8 of virtual world use in UK higher and further education. Also out at the end of March/start of April, the final snapshot under Eduserv funding.
On that last report. As ever, many people have submitted for snapshot #8, and it’s nice that there are a few new people who have submitted for the first time. Though you’ll have missed the draw for people who got theirs in by the end of February, VWW can still take submissions for this snapshot. The final deadline is the end of Sunday March 14th.
Seoul
Future snapshots: 2010 and 2011
After snapshot #8, VWW is settling into a bi-annual approach to snapshots; one at the end of the academic year (June-ish), and one at the end of the calendar year (December-ish). This has the advantage of putting about 6 months between each; one of the main problems with the current compressed cycle is contributers passing as they haven’t had enough time to do significant ’stuff’ since the last snapshot. And they’re probably quietly fed up of being asked every few months.
So, the snapshot schedule for the rest of 2010 and 2011 is:
- Snapshot #9: June/July 2010
- Snapshot #10: December 2010
- Snapshot #11: June/July 2011
- Snapshot #12: December 2011
Presentations
VWW is out and about doing presentations in the near future:
- Birmingham, UK 18th March: Virtual Worlds in Education Forum
- University of Sheffield, UK 18th April: Department of Information Studies
- Coventry University, UK Spring (date tbd)
- University of Michigan, USA Summer (date tbd)
Want VWW to come and speak to your posse? Here’s some details.
Book
Steady progress is being made on a book about the use of virtual worlds in teaching and learning, based on the last few years experiences in the UK and other research, teaching and use elsewhere. The proofreader and a few reviewers are lined up, and we seem to be pencilled in for a December 2010 release to the masses, just in time for the Christmas book market. Now you know what to get for that aunt who sends you a hand-knitted Rupert Bear jumper every single ******* year, even though you are 41.
Also putting this in writing is another incentive, as I know that if I don’t produce it, there’ll be reminders on public twitter from certain people (hard stare in general direction of Teesside 
).
Other stuff
There’s some other stuff that may be produced by VWW, that the advisory group are and will be chewing over; it will be good to reflect on the past few years work first though. Everything, including the book, will go up on, or via, this website.
That’s enough for now. A big thank you to the many UK academics, and other people, who have contributed to the snapshots, Flickr group, and other materials over the last four year. To infinity, and beyond…
