The History of Online and Blended Learning

By tsbahnsen
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    Correspondance

    The earliest method distance education, where students receive lessons and exercises through the mail.
  • Earliest Reference to Correspondence Education

    Earliest Reference to Correspondence Education

    Caleb Philips placed an ad in the Boston Gazette offering shorthand lessons
  • Phonographic Correspondence Society Founded

    Phonographic Correspondence Society Founded

    This society was a precursor to Sir Isaac Pitman's Correspondence College.
  • Society to Encourage Studies at Home Founded

    Society to Encourage Studies at Home Founded

    Anna Eliot Ticknor used the correspondence school model for her Boston, MA society
  • First Correspondence Degree Programs Offered

    First Correspondence Degree Programs Offered

    Illinois Wesleyan College offered degree programs "in absentia"
  • First Adult Education Program and Correspondence School in the US Established

    First Adult Education Program and Correspondence School in the US Established

    John Heyl Vincent established the Chauntauqua Literary and Scientific Circle in Chautaunqua, NY Link text

  • National University Extension Association Formed

    This association was formed to "develop and advance ideals, methods, and standards in continuing education and university extensions."
  • First Federally Licensed Radio Station Dedicated to Educational Broadcasting Formed

    First Federally Licensed Radio Station Dedicated to Educational Broadcasting Formed

    University of Wisconsin professors begin an amateur wireless station later known as WHA. Link text
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    Radio

    Radio is used to broadcast educational audio programming to distance learners.
  • First "School of the Air" Program Developed

    First "School of the Air" Program Developed

    Ohio State Department of Education starts the Ohio School of the Air offering daily science, literature, history, and music programming.

  • National Advisory Council for Radio Education Founded

    The Rockefeller Foundation and the Carnegie Foundation funds and organizes the council to promote radio broadcasting as a teaching medium.

  • National Committee on Education by Radio Formed

    This national organization was formed to secure the use of radio for educational purposes.
  • First Use of Television Broadcasting for Education

    First Use of Television Broadcasting for Education

    University of Iowa experiments with using television for educational purposes.
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    Television

    Television programming or designated TV channels are used to provide educational audio-visual media to students in and outside of the classroom.
  • FCC Reserves Television Channels for the Exclusive Use of Education

    FCC Reserves Television Channels for the Exclusive Use of Education

    The "Sixth Report and Order" reserves 242 television channel for educational use.
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting Established

    Corporation for Public Broadcasting Established

    The CPB's mission was to "encourage the growth and development of public radio and television broadcasting, including the use of such media for instructional, educational, and cultural purposes." Link text
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    Internet

    Distance education begins to use computers and the internet as a delivery tool.
  • Online Educational Programs Begin to Emerge

    Online Educational Programs Begin to Emerge

    University of Phoenix began using CompuServe. [Link text}(https://www.phoenix.edu/)

  • Universities Begin to Offer Online Education Programs through the Internet

    The unveiling of the World Wide Web leads to these programs being offered at the University of Phoenix and other universities.
  • Asynchronous Learning Networks Created

    Asynchronous Learning Networks Created

    The Alfred Sloan Foundation develops the ALN to explore educational alternatives for those unable to attend traditional classes.
  • NYU Online Created

    NYU Online Created

    New York University was the first large nonprofit university to create a for-profit online education subsidiary. Link Text

  • Over 1.6 Million Postsecondary Students Enrolled in Onine Courses

    Despite the closings of NYU Online and other for-profit distance education, online programs like the University of Phoenix enrollments continue to grow.

  • 65% of Institutions Report Online Learning as Critical for Long-Term Plans

    Clearly no longer a trend, demand for online learning continues to increase. Link text