JISC has funded a number of projects and produced a range of publications, studies and guides looking at serious (educational) gaming and virtual worlds
Best Practices in Virtual Worlds Teaching: A guide to using problem-based learning in Second Life[produced in collaboration with, and funding from, the Higher Education Academy Psychology Network and JISC] (Jan 2010)
Exploring the potential of virtual worlds for learning and teaching (Nov 2009)
Choosing the best virtual world for your teaching needs (Nov 2009)
Getting Started in Second Life (Aug 2009)
Serious Virtual Worlds Report (Nov 2008)
Using virtual worlds for learning and teaching discussion summary (Nov 2008)
Game Based Learning Briefing Paper (May 2007)
Learning in Immersive Worlds: a review of game based learning (Oct 2006)
Supporting Education in Virtual Worlds with Virtual Learning Environments (due to complete in June 2011)
Handheld-device enhanced learning with Nintendo's Applications Beyond Institution and country (completed Oct 2010)
DUCKLING: Delivering university curricula: Knowledge, learning & innovation gains (completed Oct 2010)
Generation 4 (completed Oct 2010)
SIMiLLE: System for an immersive & mixed reality language learning environment (completed Apr 2010)
Enriching the First World War Poetry Archive - now in Second Life
DELVE: Design of Learning Spaces in 3D Virtual Environments (completed Jun 2009)
Users & Innovation Programme (personalising technologies) (completed Mar 2009)This programme funded a number of virtual world related projects. Rowin Young from JISC CETIS has produced a useful summary of the publications and work that has come out of the Users & Innovation programme. Read it here
Publications/articles