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How Did This All Get Started
According to Tom's article, before the internet would be created in 1969 by the DOD (Department of Defense) the University of Illinois in 1960 was already ahead of the curve and the world creating an (Intranet) for their students. https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-history-of-online-education/ -
The Lemonade Stand
In 1979 Apple II released what was to be the first widely played computer game called, The Lemonade Stand. As you can imagine it was wildly successful and in the process, computer learning became a reality to the masses and in a small way virtual reality environments wwas born. https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-history-of-online-education/ -
Electronic University Network
1984 would prove to be a pivotal year in the evolution of online learning. The EUN short for Electronic University Network began their first online course in 1986. This was prior to the invention of the WWW or World Wide Web. The internet connection at that time was still only over a home phone telephone line. In 1992 AOL (America Online) began working with the EUN serving as their coordinator for higher education. https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-history-of-online-education/ -
California Virtual University
Skipping ahead to what was the next big turn in online education in 1997, CVU was established along with the first asynchronous learning network. It was very short-lived and ceased to exist by 1999 due to local politics, the idea and concept birthed many new online resources allowing new information to be presented to students about the online learning process and new opportunities for them in online education. https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-history-of-online-education/ -
Online Learning in the 2000s
By 2002 the open courseware project was created by MIT. It offered online lectures to students along with course materials. It was a pivotal moment, however, a problem born out of the project was intellectual property rights. As a result, the Creative Common License was born to protect copyright issues for the creators. By 2010 MIT was offering materials and curriculum for more than two-thousand inline courses. https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-history-of-online-education/ -
Online Learning Today
As of 2009, there are approximately 5.5 million students worldwide taking online courses an increase of 187% in student-driven online courses and the big myth that online education would eventually replace traditional brick and mortar learning has proven to be just that, a big myth. As new students choose online courses over traditional they are making a choice to be part of the evolution of online learning. https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-history-of-online-education/ -
2014 -The Future Is Here
By 2014, a new era in learning had arrived and the myth of online learning replacing traditional had become just that, a myth. Both could exist together and function as another new choice and way to get a post-secondary education in the 21st century. With each student making important educational decisions for themselves they are playing a small part in shaping the future of online learning and education. https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-history-of-online-education/