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Pitman Shorthand Training
The Phonographic Institute
Cincinnati, OH Secretarial training in stenographics was conducted through the USPS. Those who completed the coursework would receive a certificate. -
The Society to Encourage Studies at HOme
Anna Ticknor
Boston, MA Most early distance education was designed with women in mind. This program lasted 24 years and serviced some 10,000 women; regardless of economic class. -
Chautauqua Correspondence College
William Rainey Harper
Chautauqua, NY The early days of Chautauqua focused on liberal education. -
Chautauqua College of Liberal Arts
Chautauqua, NY The state of New York authorized collegiate degrees to be awarded by the newly named Chautauqua College of Liberal Arts. -
Colliery School of Mines
Wilkes-Barre, PA This began as a program to teach mine safety but later became known as the International Correspondence Schools (ICS); also training iron and railroad workers. -
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL The University of Chicago established the first university-based distance education program. The university had a strong belief in educating farmers and farmers' children in order to support the state's economic structure. This model was followed by other universities, including but not limited to the following:
* The State University of Iowa (Iowa State University)
* Ohio State University
* Pennsylvania State COllege (Pennsylvnia State University)
* University of Wisconsin -
Home Economics Extension Program
Martha Van Rensselaer
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY This program was target toward rural women throughout the state of New York. Within five years, ove 20,000 women were enrolled. -
Educational Radio Licenses
Early educational radio licenses were granted to the University of Salt Lake City, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Minnesota. Although over 200 licenses were granted by 1946, educational radio was basically a failure. -
National Home Study Council (NHSC)
This organization was started by the more reputable correspodence schools as a reaction to some questionable practices taking place in less reputable schools. -
Distance Education through Television
University of Iowa was the first to begin using television as an instructional medium. -
The United States Army Institute
This program was overseen by William Young and catered to U.S. Army personnel while serving overseas during WWI. -
The United States Armed Forces Institute
The Unted States Army Institute changed its name and focused on all military personnel; while serving as well as during times of peace. -
Instructional Television Fixed Services
The FCC dedicated 20 televion channels for universities' use as instructional sites. California State University was the first to apply for ITFS licensing. The Ford Foundation was instrumental in funding educational projects and commercial television stations also aired educational programs regularly. -
Independent Study Division of the NUEA
University educators decided to call their methods "Independent Study" instead of "Correspondence" in order to distinguish their courses from the home study schools. -
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
The United States Armed Forces Institute closed and was replaced by DANTES. DANTES worked closely with members of the Independent Study Division of the National University Continuing Education Association. -
Email and Computer Bulletin Board Systems
The use of email and computer bulletin board systems changed the way that distance education was managed. These tools gave a stronger interpersonal relationship to the experience. -
SUpercomputer Centers
By the mid-1980s, there wer five supercomputer centers that connected universities. This system was upgraded in 1987 and 1992. -
Adult Education via Computer
Pennsylvania State University was an innovator and began offereing computer-based courses, with audioconferencing, through its Adult Education program. These classes were first offered ony in-state but later grew. In 1989, this program offered classes to students in Mexico, Finland, and Estonia. -
The First Web Browser
Tim Berners-Lee was the initial inventor of the World Wide Web. Mosaic, the first Web browser, was introduced and the educational field was early to adopt the powers that it held. In addition, this new medium allowed the development of "Virtual Universities" that need to classroom space and are manageable from all around the world. The "for profit" university began to grow. -
Distance Education and Training Council.
The National Home Study Council changed its name to the Distance Education and Training Council.
