-
Chatuaqua Correspondence College founded
As the first correspondence college to be established in the United States, it is monumental in paving the way for organized distance education. Text Source: Center of Education and Training for Employment. (2003). From Chautauqua to the virtual university: A century of distance education in the United States. Columbus, OH: Moore, M. Image Source: http://pixabay.com/en/building-sketch-erich-people-team-23885/ -
Period: to
Milestones in Distance Education
-
University of Chicago develops distance learning program
The University of Chicago is the first to offer a college level distance learning program. Utilizing the USPS, it opens the doors of college education far beyond the Chicago limits. This program also opens the door to academic acceptance of distance education. Text Source: Casey, D. (2008). A journey to legitimacy: The historical development of distance education through technology. Tech Trends, (52)2, 45-51. Image Source:http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-3403417476 -
Rural Free Delivery (RFD) service begins
The development of RFD allows easier access to education to farmers and others living in rural areas. Until this time, rural inhabitants were responsible for picking up their own mail from the post office or for paying an often expensive courier service to deliver it directly to their homes. Text Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/512968/Rural-Free-Delivery-RFD Image Source:http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-3066499587 -
Cornell offers non-credit correspondence courses
After 3 for-credit correspondence were introduced through Cornell in 1903, one course for any woman in the state are offered starting in 1905. Over 20,000 women are enrolled in the home economics program within 5 years. Text Source:Center of Education and Training for Employment. (2003). From Chautauqua to the virtual university: A century of distance education in the United States. Columbus, OH: Moore, M. Image Source: http://pixabay.com/en/red-green-crayon-pen-pencil-37254/ -
1926: NHSC created
The National Home Study Council is established to create guidelines for correspondence education, helping it to remain a reputable form of education after a number of for-profit organizations' sales practices raise skepticism. Text Source: Image Source: https://schoolweb.dysart.org/SchoolSites/index.aspx?sid=127&page=255 -
State University of Iowa: First TV broadcast of educational instruction
This brings distance education right into people's living rooms. People are now able to watch instructors and see concepts be explained by a real person as opposed to attempting to understand through text and graphics only. Text Source: Center of Education and Training for Employment. (2003). From Chautauqua to the virtual university: A century of distance education in the United States. Columbus, OH: Moore, M. Image Source: http://pixabay.com/en/screen-icon-television-theme-tv-28084/ -
University of Phoenix founded
Founder of University of Pheonix Dr. John Sperling is a pioneer in adult education. With the needs of working adults in mind, Dr. Sperling aims to offer courses that allow flexibility in both scheduling and format of course delivery to allow more working adults to achieve higher education status. Text Source: http://www.phoenix.edu/about_us/media-center/just-the-facts.html Image Source: http://findlogo.net/show/detail/U/university-of-phoenix-185-logo -
World Wide Web introduced to the public
With the introduction of the World Wide Web in 1991, distance education is revolutionized. Courses begin to be offered online and shortly thereafter, entire programs are offered via the Internet. The creation of the Web also leads to the first solely online university in 1993. Text Source: Casey, D. (2008). A journey to legitimacy: The historical development of distance education through technology. Tech Trends, (52)2, 45-51. Image Source: -
First successful Web browser Mosaic is released
Mosaic not only allows educators and researchers from around the world to easily connect and collaborate with one another, it also allows for nearly instantaneous information to be accessed via text, graphics, sound, and video. Text Source: http://www.nsf.gov/about/history/nsf0050/internet/mosaic.htm Image Source: http://www.herongyang.com/Computer-History/WWW-Mosaic-The-Browser-Popularized-the-Web.html -
Skype is released to the public
Skype allows users to communicate over the Internet via voice, video, or instant message. This software, which is one of the earliest and most successful examples using VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) allows users to talk live with one another without the need for a landline phone. Text Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1516582/Skype Image Source: http://beta.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/
