Distance learning

History of Distance Education

  • First Distance Learning Course

    First Distance Learning Course
    World's first distance learning course was established in Boston. Lessons were sent by mail.
  • Sweden

    Sweden
    Composition course is offered through correspondence by Swedish newspapers. This caused development of correspondence courses across Europe.
  • Correspondence courses in England

    Correspondence courses in England
    Sir Isaac Pitman organizes first correspondence course in England. The course was on shorthand.
  • Secretarial training via post

    Secretarial training via post
    In Cincinnati Ohio, secretarial training in stenographics was conducted via post. After course completion, certificates of achievement were granted.
  • Language Courrses offered via mail correspondence

    Language Courrses offered via mail correspondence
    Instructors Charles Toussaint and Gustav Langenscheidt taught lanuguage courses via mail correspondence.
  • External Program created

    External Program created
    University of London created "External Program" which was the first distance learning-based course at the university level.
  • University of Cape of Good Hope

    University of Cape of Good Hope
    University of the Cape of Good Hope founded a distance learning facility.
  • Chautauqua

    Chautauqua
    Chautauqua movement began as a means for traveling to teach and share information to people across the U.S. This allowed for people to be exposed to speakers and information they would have not otherwise had access to.
  • Colliery School of Mines

    Colliery School of Mines
    In Pasadena, CA the Colliery School of Mines established a correspondence program to educate mining staff.
  • Anna Ticknor

    Anna Ticknor
    Anna Ticknor developed a home-based program that targeted New York women. She achieved 20,000+ student enrollment.
  • First Instructional Film

    First Instructional Film
    First Catalog of instructional films appear.Films were a significant addition to distance learning as they providied means other then text books.
  • First college to broadcast courses across radio newtworks.

    First college to broadcast courses across radio newtworks.
    Pennsylvania State College become first college to broadcast courses across raio networks.
  • FIrst university to use television as a learning tool.

    FIrst university to use television as a learning tool.
    The University of Iowa became the first university to emply television as a learning tool.
  • First Educational Television station launched

    First Educational Television station launched
    KUHT was the first educational television station to go on the air.
  • Idependent Study

    Idependent Study
    Correspondence education is changed to 'Independent study' to establish the difference between university and homeschooling methods.
  • ARPAnet

    ARPAnet
    ARPAnet is founded as the first version of the internet.
  • Britain expands distance education

    Britain expands distance education
    Britain launches Open University with courses that are conducted by various means, including television, correspondence, study groups, and residential courses and seminars.
  • First state educational satellite system

    First state educational satellite system
    First state educational satellite system offered daily television instruction to 100 Alaskan villages.
  • CALC founded

    CALC founded
    Computer assisted learning center was founded as a computer oriented adult learning center.
  • virtual campuses developed through AOL

    virtual campuses developed through AOL
    Electronic university network helps develop university virtual campuses through AOL. A PhD program is offered.
  • Online-only curriculum established

    Online-only curriculum established
    CALCampuses establish first comprehensive online-only curriculum.
  • WebCT 1.0

    WebCT 1.0
    WebCT 1.0 LMS an e-learning system is released. This is often considered the predecessor of Blackboard.
  • Blackboard

    Blackboard
    Blackboard Course Systems introduced.
  • 81% of Colleges have at least one online class/

    81% of Colleges have at least one online class/
    By 2003, 81% of colleges have at least one online course. 16% of US undergraduates are enrolled in at least one distance education course.
  • Sakai

    Sakai
    Sakai Project is formed. This is a collaboration of academic institutions developed a software for virtual learning enviroments.
  • Almost 32 million enrolled in online courses

    Almost 32 million enrolled in online courses
    By 2005, almost 32 million US students were enrolled in at least one online course at a university.
  • KHAN Academy

    KHAN Academy
    Khan Academy is founded with the mission of providing free, world class education to students through online materials.
  • 5.5 million students are taking one online course

    5.5 million students are taking one online course
    By 2009, 5.5 million students are taking at least one online course. 53% of public high school students were enrolled in distance education courses. YouTube EDU introduces thousands of free lectures.
  • 60% of four-year US private college/universities offer online courses

    60% of four-year US private college/universities offer online courses
    60% of four-year US private college/universities offer online courses