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The history of online learning in higher education can sometimes seem too big to wrap your mind around, much like the internet itself, so we’ve put together a timeline to help you better understand the origins of today’s online colleges and degrees.
Though it may seem that online education had its beginnings in the late 1900s, the concept of distance learning first came into practice in the mid 19th century when the U.S. Postal Service was developed.
The first distance learning degree course was run by the University of London in 1858 through their External Programme. In 1965, the University of Alberta offered some of the first online courses using IBM 1500 computers.
Online learning started in 1960 when Donald Bitzer, a laboratory assistant at the University of Illinois, created the very first e-learning system called the PLATO. The device was originally designed strictly for computer-based education, but due to its innovative networking capabilities, it quickly became the foundation for online learning and ...
Though the groundwork of the internet was already established in 1969, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the technology began to revolutionize distance education. In 1981 the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute’s School of Management and Strategic Studies started an online program.
The roots of online learning can be traced back to the early days of computer-based education in the 1960s and 1970s, when rudimentary mainframe computers were used to deliver educational content.
In the earliest days of online learning, students were often lumped into one big cohort that included a wide range of abilities and learning styles. Now, an online private school can use technology to offer more individualized programming to meet the needs of a diverse student population.
Distance, or online learning has come a long way since its beginning almost half a century ago. We take a look at some of the technological highlights and educational milestones achieved along the way.
Online learning emerged in 1982 when the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute in La Jolla, California opened its School of Management and Strategic Studies. The School employed computer conferencing to deliver a distance education program to business executives. [2]
Here’s a quick look at the past and development of online education in the U.S. (1,2) 1892. The University of Chicago becomes the first school to offer “correspondence” courses. 1922. Pennsylvania State College broadcasts some of its courses over the radio. 1953.