D. Randy Garrison

Dr. Garrison completed his BEd and MEd at the University of Calgary specializing in mathematics and computer applications. He completed an EdD at the University of British Columbia in 1982. Dr. Garrison has served as a Director, Distance Education and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Continuing from 1985 to 1996. From 1996 to 2001 he served as Dean, Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta. He returned to the University of Calgary to become the Director, teaching & Learning Centre. In 2012 he will assume full-time teaching responsibilities.

Dr. Garrison’s current research focus is associated with the Communities of Inquiry (CoI) theoretical framework. In general this has to do with validating the three main constructs (teaching presence, cognitive presence and social presence) and understanding the dynamics of an educational CoI in the context of online and blended learning environments. In particular, he is exploring metacognition in collaborative learning environments. Initial work has been done to define the construct and develop a metacognitive questionnaire.

EdD
University of British Columbia

MEd
University of Calgary

BEd
University of Calgary

Garrison, D. R. (2011). E-Learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice (2nd Ed.). London: Routledge/Taylor and Francis.

Akyol, Z., & Garrison, D. R. (Eds.) (in press). Educational Communities of Inquiry: Theoretical Framework, Research and Practice. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Cleveland-Innes, M., & Garrison, D. R. (eds.) (2010). An introduction to distance education: Understanding teaching and learning in a new era. London: Routledge.

Garrison, D. R., & Vaughan, N. (2008). Blended learning in higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Akyol, Z., & Garrison, D. R. (2011). Assessing metacognition in an online community of inquiry. Internet & Higher Education, 14(3), 183-190.

• Canadian Association for University Continuing Education Distinguished Research Award, 2010.
• Sloan-C Award for Most Outstanding Achievement in Online Learning by an Individual, 2009.
• University Continuing Education Association (USA) Frandson Book Award for Blended Learning in Higher Education, 2008.
• Canadian Association for Distance Education, Excellence in Research Award, 2005.
• Canadian Society for Studies in Higher Education Research, Award given for distinguished contribution to research in higher education, 2004.

• Courses