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History of Distance Education

By Jeanne Rieger

  • Chautauqua Correspondence College is founded.

    Chautauqua Correspondence College is founded.
    The beginnings of distance education in America is started by the Lyceum Movement, which birthed the circuit or "tent" Chautaqua Movement.

  • Penn State "tunes in" to offer radio courses.

    Penn State "tunes in" to offer radio courses.
    This start a trend of education through the airwaves.

  • TV becomes a "channel" of education!

    TV becomes a "channel" of education!
    In 1934, one of the pioneering institutions, the State University of Iowa, became the first university to broadcast educational television programs.

  • Charles Wedemeyer and the AIM Project

    Charles Wedemeyer and the AIM Project
    In 1964, Charles Wedemeyer obtained a grant from the Carnegie Foundation to fund his Articulated Instructional Media (AIM) Project at the University of Wisconsin.

  • Arpanet Begins

    Arpanet Begins
    U.S. Department of Defense develops the Internet (Arapanet) that will revolutionize distance education.

  • Open University starts in the UK.

    Open University starts in the UK.
    The Open University offers flexible part-time study, supported distance and open learning for undergraduate and postgraduate courses and qualifications.

  • The first fully televised college courses offered!

    The first fully televised college courses offered!
    Coastline Community College createsd, implemented and licened the first fully televised college courses.

  • American University distance education enrollment explodes!

    American University distance education enrollment explodes!
    In the United States, by the mid-1980s, more than 300,000 students were enrolled in university-taught distance education courses

  • I homechool my children for 5 years using correspondence courses.

    I homechool my children for 5 years using correspondence courses.
    Yup, I'm one of those.....

  • My daughter finishes her High School degree through correspondence.

    My daughter finishes her High School degree through correspondence.
    She goes on to earn a BSN at Marian University.

  • 81% of Colleges have at least one online course.

    81% of Colleges have at least one online course.

  • Franklin University Graduation!

    Franklin University Graduation!
    I finish my undergrad degree online through Franklin University, which would not have been possible without distance education.

  • Daily use of distance education!

    Daily use of distance education!
    I learn how to begin weaving and crocheting by watching a DIY video online. My granddaughter practices her math facts with an online program connected to her third grade class. Lifelong learning happens everyday in my house, mostly through distance education!