History of E-Learning

  • Stenography

    Isaac Pitman uses mail to send students assignments, and in turn students mail back completed work for assessment.
  • 1st Teaching Machine

    1st Teaching Machine

    Sidney Pressey builds a MCQ-solving device for students providing them four options. The student was required to make the correct selection in order to move forward (much like built in assessments in today's computer based modules).
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    Beginnings of eLearning

    Throughout the 50's, another version of the teaching machine was created using reinforcement theory wherein students wrote down responses on paper and able move on if the answer was correct. Radio also became a method to teach, broadcasting educational programs in areas such as religion, politics, science and more.
  • 1st Computer-Based Training Session

    1st Computer-Based Training Session

    Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations (PLATO) is introduced by University of Illinois.
  • Internet Based Courses

    Internet Based Courses

    First online courses introduced through CICERO by UK's The Open University. Coastline Community College founded as the world's 1st entirely remote community college.
  • Mac PC

    Mac PC

    Apple launches the Macintosh 128K, the first iteration of a personal computer.
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    Becoming Digitally Native

    Born into a new digital age, these new generations grow up with technology and strong intuition of use, making it an essential part of life.
  • 1st LMS Born

    EKKO, developed by Norway's NKI Distance Education Network was released
  • The term "eLearning" is born!

    The term "eLearning" is born!

    Elliot Masie coins the phrase elearning during a conference.
  • MIT's OpenCourseWare

    MIT begins offering online course materials and lectures for free
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    eLearning Sets the Standard

    eLearning tools become the standard in the learning industry, enabling "anyone to build". This introduces a slew of new tools and concepts like podcasts, mobile apps/learning and internet, ebooks.
  • Udemy Founded

    Udemy Founded

    Online course platform founded As of 2020, over 57,000 teachers, more than 50 million global students, in more than 65 languages
  • MOOC

    Following Udemy, more online learning platforms such as Cousera and edX emerge.
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    eLearning Becomes the Norm

    Businesses & universities use elearning via LMS as an efficient and cost effective way to train employees rather than pay for seminars and workshops.