About Terry Anderson
Thanks for visiting the ‘Virtual Canuck’ 
This is my first real blog, but I have been online for over 20 years. My one (and only) Net claim to fame is that I think I organized the first ever ‘virtual conference’. This was run on UseNet, Bit Net and various listservs for the international Council on Distance Education in 1993.
Currently, I am a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Distance Education at Athabasca University – Canada’s Open University. I teach educational technology courses in the Masters of Distance Education program. I am also the director of the Canadian Institute for Distance Education Research CIDER.
My current research interests relate to social software use in distance education. You can find more about me including a long and boring CV and some of my recent published articles and presentations at my profile on the Athabasca Landing (Athabasca’s boutique social network)
I live in Edmonton Alberta Canada in the community of Riverdale with my wife Susan.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Dear Terry,
What a coincidence on names, eh? I came across Athabasca University as I was searching for a distance learning program (I am wanting to pursue doctoral studies in education). As a longtime educator, I have always known that education as we know it is going to be revolutionized and transformed with technology and virtual learning. The discussions I have had with my colleagues here in California have dealt with the reality of conforming to students who live in a digital world, and sadly, their teachers by and large, do not. We are forward thinking, however, and are looking to change that.
I have been reading some of your postings, and I find the discussions interesting. I will explore the discussions further.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Hi Terry,
I’m a IT student from the Philippines and i’ve been doing my research about the education in second life.. i’ve gone through your blog and your post about second life helps me in doing my study.
now, i am searching for residents/users who i can interview with about their experience in second life for me to go further with this study. i would like to ask you a favor if you can be one of my respondents. i would be very greatful to hear from you. (you can send me an email into miabernaldo@yahoo.com, this is my email address)
thank you so much. God Bless
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Always happy to find fellow Canucks involved in thinking about online teaching, open education and other exciting issues. (I am not formally a Canuck, but have been here enough years to feel some sort of attachment). I am currently doing my MA in Higher Ed at OISE/Uni of Toronto. I believe I met a colleague of yours at the Open Ed conference in Utah this fall.
Stian
March 17th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I’ll have to keep up with your blog. Getting some good use out of your textbook, “The Theory and Practice of Online Learning.”
You’ll be happy to know Royal Roads uses it. I would have probably read it anyway. I’ve been a web project manager and UX/IX/IA guy for years. Just broadening myself with an MA in Learning and Technology.
January 4th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Hi Terry
I’m working on a project for the UN FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) IMARK project and doing a bit on communities and networks – a topic we both seem to enjoy. I was wondering if I can ask permission to use the material (fully referenced of course) on this blog post: http://terrya.edublogs.org/2007/04/30/on-groups-networks-and-collectives/ and if the paper you were writing is online some place. I can’t seem to find it (though I find lots of references TO it in your slide decks!)
Thanks and Happy New Year
Nancy
January 4th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Yes, I’m pleased to have this work quoted.
The most complete ‘article’ is probably the Chapter we did “how the crowd can teach” by Dron and Anderson at http://www.igi-global.com/downloads/excerpts/33011.pdf
This is from the book
Handbook of Research on Social Software and Developing Community Ontologies
Edited By: Stylianos Hatzipanagos, King’s College London, UK; Steven Warburton , King’s College London, UK