

Garrison first became interested in dentistry after realizing that his childhood dentist was a central part of the community. The child of a farming family in rural North Dakota, Dr. Cody Guy Garrison has had a passion for practicing dentistry and performing as a concert pianist, and has dedicated his life to mastering both. The American Journal of Distance Education, 5(3), 10–15.From early childhood, Dr. The American Journal of Distance Education, 1(3), 3–15. Beyond independence in distance education: The concept of control. Theoretical principles of distance education : 9–21. Quality and access in distance education: Theoretical considerations. Three generations of technological innovations in distance education. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 7(4) Theorizing in distance education: The critical quest for conceptual foundations. Theoretical principles of distance education: 61–79. The evolution of theory in distance education. "Will Technology Kill the Academic Calendar?". An introduction to distance education: Understanding teaching and learning in a new era (2nd edition). E-Learning in the 21st Century: A Community of Inquiry Framework for Research and Practice (3rd edition). Thinking Collaboratively: Learning in a Community of Inquiry. Teaching in blended learning environments: Creating and sustaining communities of inquiry. Educational communities of inquiry: Theoretical framework, research and practice. E-Learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice (2nd ed.). An introduction to distance education: Understanding teaching and learning in a new era. E-Learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice. A transactional perspective on teaching-learning: A framework for adult and higher education. Research perspectives in adult education. Education at a distance: From issues to practice. Understanding distance education: A framework for the future.

Garrison believed that communication and collaboration between teacher and learner is essential in distance education.By understanding the relationship among teaching presence, cognitive presence and social presence, educators will be able to better meet the needs of the learners.Garrison believed that at the start of the 21st century, online learning has focused on communication and collaboration.He explored the relationship with teaching, learning and the communication process. The focus of Garrison's work has been on distance education, online and blended learning.He received an award for most outstanding achievement from the Sloan Consortium in 2009. In 1972, he did his Master of Education in Computer Application in Education at the University of Calgary. Ed in Mathematics with a minor in Psychology. Donn Randy Garrison (born 1945) is a Canadian professor emeritus at the University of Calgary who has published extensively on distance education.
