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The Western Behavioral Sciences Institute uses computer conferencing to provide a distance education program for business executives.
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Ron Gordon, Atari's former president, launches the Electronic University Network to make online courses available for people with access to personal computers.
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Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida, creates the first electronic classroom through an accredited online graduate program.
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The National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) launches the first open computer network — a precursor to the internet — allowing institutions to create and distribute electronic information.
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Jones International University opens in Centennial, Colorado, becoming the first fully web-based, accredited university.
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CALCampus introduces the first online-only curriculum with real-time instruction and participation — i.e., synchronous learning.
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Nineteen U.S. governors found Western Governors University to help Western states maximize educational resources through distance learning.
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California Virtual University — a consortium of California colleges offering around 700 online classes — opens.
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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launches the OpenCourseWare Project to provide free MIT courses to people worldwide.
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Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), a free online course resource, becomes available through Udacity and enables learners to take classes asynchronously at their own pace.
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The COVID-19 pandemic forces nearly every college and university to switch to online learning rather than hold classes in person.