History of Distance Learing

By Matthew.d.needler
  • First Distance Learning

    First Distance Learning

    Boston- Caleb Philips first short hand correspondence. First known distance learning course offered. https://sopa.tulane.edu/blog/evolution-distance-learning
  • Postal delivery service

    Postal delivery service

    Postal Delivery of correspondence course, stenographic practice.
    This was the first wave of distance learning in the united states. Marking a new form of education. (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • The first distance learning degree course was run by the University of London through their External Programme.

    Oxford Learning College. (n.d.). History of Distance Learning | Online Education Timeline. Oxford Learning College. https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/

  • Society to Encourage Studies at Home

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)
  • Chautauqua Correspondence College

    Chautauqua Correspondence College

    This was the movement to legitimize and get people into college who normally wouldn't have been able to afford it. Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.

  • New York State authorizes correspondence program.

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • Mine Safety Program

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • First College Level Courses- University of Chicago

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • The University of Wisconsin first used the term ‘distance education’

    Oxford Learning College. (n.d.). History of Distance Learning | Online Education Timeline. Oxford Learning College. https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/
  • First Radio Courses

    First Radio Courses

    I see this as another big waive of distance learning. Where over the airwaves college courses were being offered. (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • National Home Study Council Created NHSC

    Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.

  • 39 american universities offered correspondence teaching

    Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.

  • The first educational television station, KUHT-TV, was launched in Houston, Texas

    This was the third wave of education. Students could finally see lectures and education on their home TVs. The Evolution of Educational Broadcasting in the United States. (2024). Marianhigh.org. https://www.marianhigh.org/the-evolution-of-educational-broadcasting-in-the-united-states
  • State of Iowa first to broadcast education on TV

    State of Iowa first to broadcast education on TV

    College level course now available through the TV. Revolutionizing distance learning. Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.

  • US Gov. creates ITFS, to allow certain TV channels for Education

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • University of Alberta offered some of the first online courses using IBM 1500 computers.

    Oxford Learning College. (n.d.). History of Distance Learning | Online Education Timeline. Oxford Learning College. https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/
  • Up to 3 million correspondence students

    Up to 3 million correspondence students

    As we can see by these numbers there was a growing demand for non traditional forms of education. Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.

  • First Fully Televised College Course

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • Ron Gordon, Atari’s former president, launches the Electronic University Network to make online courses available for people with access to personal computers.

    Thompson, E. (2017, December 13). History of Online Education. TheBestSchools.org; thebestschools.org. https://thebestschools.org/magazine/online-education-history/

  • First Class over satellite. (Online)

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • Over 200 College Level telecourses

    Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.

  • Penn State adult education program initiated a graduate program delivered by two-way compressed vidio

    Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.
  • University of Phoenix began offering an all online for profit class program

    University of Phoenix began offering an all online for profit class program

    This can be seen as the beginning of online classes. This is the modern internet wave of distance learning. (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • Jones International University

    first university to exist completely online globally History. (n.d.). Jones International University. https://jiue.org/history/ (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • NHSC changes name to Distance Education and Training Council

    Moore, M. G. (2003). From Chautauqua to the Virtual University.

  • First Online High School- CompuHigh went online.

    arcstone. (2022, May 5). Online Summer - The History, Benefits, and Options | BlueSky. Blue Sky Online School. https://www.blueskyschool.org/online-education/the-history-of-online-school-benefits-and-options/

  • Web CT and Blackboard

    (“A Journey to Legitimacy: The Historical Development of Distance Education through Technology,” 2008)

  • Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) were first launched by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through their MITx program.

    Oxford Learning College. (n.d.). History of Distance Learning | Online Education Timeline. Oxford Learning College. https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/
  • More than a quarter of students (29.7 percent) take at least one distance education course, according to the Online Learning Consortium

    More than a quarter of students (29.7 percent) take at least one distance education course, according to the Online Learning Consortium

    Online Courses are now mainstream. The Evolution of Distance Learning | Tulane School of Professional Advancement. (n.d.). Sopa.tulane.edu. https://sopa.tulane.edu/blog/evolution-distance-learning

  • 3,928 colleges offer online degrees

    Google AI
  • The COVID-19 pandemic forces nearly every college and university to switch to online learning rather than hold classes in person.

    The COVID-19 pandemic forces nearly every college and university to switch to online learning rather than hold classes in person.

    This was a hyperspeed change in distance learning. When traditional education methods are taken away over night distance education picked up the load and ran. Thompson, E. (2017, December 13). History of Online Education. TheBestSchools.org; thebestschools.org. https://thebestschools.org/magazine/online-education-history/
  • Expected projection of online students 60 million

    Expected projection of online students 60 million

    Online College and Online Education is here to stay. It is rapidly growing and is a form of almost all education today. Source -Google AI