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Short history of distance learning

Distance education has contributed to the goal of the generations of students, to have the opportunity to pursue their educational dreams outside the traditional educational institutions.

Students are able to continue further their education and maintain their obligations with their families and employers. Distance education is not for everyone, but it has stood the test of time and it is noticing a growing trend.

Here is the brief timeline of distance education events:

• 1840 – Isaac Pitman teaches shorthand by correspondence in the UK.
• 1858 – The University of London creates External Program.
• 1883 – New York State authorizes the Chautauqua Institute to award degrees earned via correspondence.
• 1891 – The Colliery Engineer School of Mines renames itself International Correspondence Schools.
• 1892 – The University of Chicago starts administering the first university courses by mail.
• 1906 – The Calvert School of Baltimore becomes the first primary school in the United States to offer correspondence courses.
• 1916 – The National University Continuing Education Association is created in the United States.
• 1921 – Pennsylvania State College begins broadcasting courses on the radio.
• 1933 – The University of Iowa begins broadcasting courses on television.
• 1950 – The Ford Foundation begins offering grants to create and develop educational programs for television broadcasting.
• 1967 – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is created.
• 1970 – Walden University is established.
• 1974 – California State University offers a Masters degree via correspondence.
• 1982 – The National University Teleconferencing Network is established.
• 1984 – The personal computer is named “man of the year” by Time Magazine.

The development of the technologies for personal computer and the internet, has influenced the distance education to evolve into an extremely important element of the contemporary education.

Almost every university in North America offers courses online, while an entire industry is formed around the concept of online education. There are countless online courses available to the general public.

The beautiful thing about online education is that there are no borders, and the potential students are from all over the world, with the same opportunities, equal to everybody.

Online learning has the capacity to make the world a better place to live.

The knowledge expands the horizons, the online education enhances this goal.

More:
EDUC6030: The History of Distance Learning

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