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Punch Card Loom
John Marie Jacquard created the punch card loom (computer). This type of programming would be used in early IBM computers (Frerrer, n.d.). -
Analytic Engine
Charles Babbage created the 1st prototype of a "modern" style of he analytic engine and is sometimes referred to as "father of computing" The International Charles Babbage Society (later the Charles Babbage Institute) took his name to honor his intellectual contributions and their relation to modern computers (Who was Charles Baggage, 2019.) -
Degree through Distance Learning
The University of London offered the first full degree through Distance Learning. -
"Distance Education"
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is the 1st USA school to use the term "distance learning" -
Phonographic Recorders
The Univeristy of Wisonsin–Madison sends course materials and lectures on phonograph records to distance learners, as a means of distance education and setting the stage for online learning -
Radio Broadcast
Pennsylvania State University is the first college or university to broadcast courses over the radio -
Z3
It is said that the fully automated electro-mechanical programmable digital computer is created by German Konrad Zuse. -
Television Courses
The University of Houston begins offering course credit for television correspondence courses -
Intranet
Inranet system is create at The University of Illinois -
Computer Network
Leonard Kleinrock, Lawrence Roberts, and Thomas Merrill create the first wide area computer network. -
First Signal
Charley Kline transmitted the first internet signal. -
Virtual Campus
The first virtual campus, Coastline Community College offers the first virtual campus to students. -
Portable Computers/Online Programs
The Osborne 1 is the first commercially successful portable computer and Western Behavioral Sciences Institute offers the first online college program. -
Electronic University Network
The Electronic University Network is created to promote access to onlline courses. Long before MOOCs, mobile learning, and learning management systems, the project, started by former Atari president Ron Gordon, was a leading innovator in online education (Etherington, n.d.) -
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix launches its online degree program. -
Internet/World Wide Web
Al Gore invents the internet and the World Wide Web opens to the public -
Synchronous Learning
CALCAMPUS offers the first online college courses with real–time instruction and participation -
Khan Academy
Salman Khan founds Khan Academy. Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom (Kahn Academy, n.d.) -
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama announces $500 million in grants to community colleges, the bulk of which supports the development of online learning resources and programs. -
Online Programs
98% of public universities and colleges offer some form of online program
