One area that he is currently getting a lot of recognition for is his research on interaction in online learning environments. "No topic raises more contentious debate among educators than the role of interaction as a crucial component of the education process," he wrote in a paper titled "Getting the Mix Right Again: An Updated and Theoretical Rationale for Interaction," that was published in the October 2003 issue of IRRODL.

In a recent interview with EdPath, Anderson explained that a good portion of his work on interaction relates to students interacting with content. "Some people think that is stretching the word to far, but even in traditional education you are supposed to spend more time interacting with a textbook and in the library than in a lecture. What we are seeing with new technologies - such as interactive multi--media, games, and simulations - is that we have raised the ante on the possibilities of interacting with content, without other human beings."

Anderson adds that he is trying to see where the break-even points exist in terms of financial investment when it comes to developing effective online learning interactions on both the human side and content side. "Interaction, especially with teachers, gets very expensive," he says. "Also, where are the break even points in terms of pedagogy? What kind of learning objects really demand that they have cohorts collaboratively learning? Which ones can be more efficiently done by students interacting with content alone, or interacting with people in their community rather than the formal education system."

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