History of Online Education

  • First Distance Learning Course

    Lessons were sent by mail and the course was based in Boston, MA.
  • Shorthand taught by correspondense

    This course was offered by Isaac Pitman located in Great Britain
  • 1st University offered correspondence course

    This course was by Illinois Wesleyan University
  • ICS (International Correspondence Schools) is launched.

    Thomas Foster launched ICS and it became the largest study-at-home school.
  • The Distance Education was first used

    The Univeristy of Wisconsin at Madison coined the phrase distance education.
  • 1st true distance education institution

    The University of Wisconsin-Extension was founded and was the first true distance education institution.
  • Teaching Machine Developmed

    Sidney Pressey, developed the first drill and practice machine developed for distance education.
  • Problem Cylinder developed at the University of Alberta

    This machine was able to check the steps that at home students used to solve problems.
  • 1st Televised College Credit Course

    The University of Houston offered the first televised college credit course. The course ran up to 15 hours per week.
  • Programmed instruction developed

    B. F. Skinner develops the first programmed instruction and an updated teaching machine.
  • Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations was developed

    The University of Illinois at Champaign was able to present the first course over the internet.
  • Electronic Blackboard

    PLATO invented the first electronic blackboard which allowed schools to present information and forum for students to make comments.
  • Havering Computer Managed Learning System was developed

    Over 10,000 students and 100 teacher in applications were available
  • 1st online prorgram was started

    School of Management and Strategic Studies at the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute starts an online program
  • Period: to

    Online and Distance Education Improvements & Enhancements

    During this time programs were development and improved. Many universities began to launch their online programs.
  • CAlC (Computer Assisted Learning Center was developed

    The first small, offline computer-based, adult learning center was developed.
  • Internet Was Born

    The Department of Defense uses the arpnet (internet)