We're nearing the end of 2008, and I'm coming up short on ideas. I want to comfortably segue to 2008 with plenty of blogs on tap, but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen currently.

And I've started brainstorming a list of topics for something even more challenging - future research. Part of this is inspired by emails I've been getting from a faculty member at another institution of higher education who thinks that a collaboration may be mutually beneficial. I'm coming up against the "yes buts" debate.

This would be a great topic, but the collaboration and working over distance may be tough. Writing about studio spaces would be cool, but the background research to understand where that is would be grueling (as background research is almost always grueling).

Something on pedagogical neutrality of LMSes? Something on how data aggregation in an LMS may offer institutionally valuable information? Something about wetlabs and sims and remote labs in e-learning? The use of a game space for learning on Second Life? Something on graphical informational literacy in ID? Something on game design for specific learning?

A Chapter or a Book?

There's a small idea for a book prospectus. There are some ideas for chapters. Ironically, sometimes, a book would be easier to write than a specific chapter - depending on the topic. There's so much more control that goes into a book and so much more of a sense of coherent vision.

What's Forthcoming

2008 should see a couple articles forthcoming (already committed to by publishers) on a specific sim build, on using a particular model for building RLOs, on a future LMS as a sci-fi piece, and on two culturally sensitive course redesigns. There's a chapter on localizing global e-learning, too. These are essential a fait accompli.

Really, research papers seem to come from the work and inspiration, and I've not got full control on either. At junctures like these, when I am at loose ends, it always feels iffy and touch-and-go. It's a blank-sheet moment.

And then something shapes up in the distance and becomes real.