Professor Emeritus Athabasca University
Edmonton
Joined January 2009
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30 years ago I was manually coding text learning transcripts +concluded it was too time consuming. Now can use use LLM with success + much less effort. see Krukowski et al (2027) Potential of large language models for assessment of cognitive engagement in informal online communi
Bin Dahmash, N. F. (2026). Chat-based interaction in virtual classes: EFL students’ perceptions, motivation, and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1807648.
I've long been a fan of 'back channel' communication during synchronous sessions. New study "The results revealed chat-based interaction is an accommodative, low-anxiety communication method that is associated with engagement and well-being among learners in online EFL settings."
Glad to have played a very small role in a new publication bringing the venerable COI model into AI age see Reconceptualizing community of inquiry in the age of generative artificial intelligence. doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2026…
A "field note" I wrote published this week in IRRODL. I asked AI tool to detail the uses of an article I wrote in 2003. I could think of 3. AI detailed 10 ways that others had used the article. Seems AI knows more about my work, than I do! irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/…
Things have come a very long way with net-based virtual conferences since I ran the world's first one in 1992. Here is an article that talks of integrating F2F, zoom and VR to reduce carbon. Also presents framework to evaluate what works. Good article! tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1…
Can AI recall and understand the implications of my own writing better than I? see virtualcanuck.ca/2025/10/29/…
See my pro nuclear energy rant on virtualcanuck.ca/2025/12/13/…
Very honoured and humbled to be awarded Honourary Doctorate from Universidade Aberta (Portugal Open University) see virtualcanuck.ca/2025/12/06/…
NDP Politician Charlie Angus on Trump's war on Canada " This is going to be a long and very hard road. People will suffer, and families will be hurt. There is no getting around it. There will be no winners in this battle.
But Canadians are unified. Whereas Americans are divided."
Nice to 25th Anniversary edition of IRRODL. Athabasca wrote a press release IRRODL story athabascau.ca/news/research-…
Myself, Rory McGreal, Peter Cookson & Serena Henderson publish - Twenty-Five Years of Innovation and Knowledge Sharing: The Legacy and Future of the International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (2025) at irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/…
Resurrected Virtual Canuck to post about our recent trip to Jasper - After the Wildfire virtualcanuck.ca/2025/01/27/…
DEI just perpetuates and is racist. see The Impact of DEI on College Campuses, by @FreeBlckThought open.substack.com/pub/freebl…
This is an interesting analysis of the recent polarized debate on adding recognition in the constitution and an advisory "voice" for aboriginal Australians. I also like the model describing a process for dialogue on contentious issues. scienceandfreedom.org/articl…
Call on Policy Makers to include Nuclear Energy in their Climate Policy - Sign the Petition! chng.it/k8GPmtXZ via @CdnChange
Congrats to the Soc. for Academic Freedom on a powerful response to the "woke takeover" of universities with 11 short articles in the latest newsletter. I am coming to believe that the post woke era and a new appreciation for academic freedom is coming see safs.ca/current-issue/
At last, a study from UBC showing a path forward to combat epidemic of homelessness in Canada . UBC researchers give $7500 cash and measure results. see pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.22…