The History of Distance Learning

With roots reaching back three centuries, distance learning has evolved from humble beginnings into the efficient educational delivery system known today. Through all its varying forms, the goal of distance learning has always been to bring educational opportunities to a broader population.



Correspondence courses were the norm in distance education beginning in the 1700s and continuing through the early 20th century. All education and learning took place through lessons delivered through the postal service. Courses were aimed at students who could not attend universities due to financial or location restraints. Some courses were developed primarily for women who were frequently excluded from higher education.

With the development of new technologies in the 20th century, expanded forms of delivery were tried. Radio was used briefly and somewhat unsuccessfully to bring the classroom into the home. With the advent of television, distance learning quickly adopted this new instructional media to change both classroom teaching and distance delivery beyond the classroom. Educational television use in the classroom expanded as studies concluded that it was as effective as face to face teaching. Quality was an ongoing problem as many of the offerings were merely transmitted lectures.

By the 1960s and 1970s new technologies continued to replace the old correspondence methods. The University Without Walls movement of the early 1970s attempted to include a broad range of students in an organized, yet flexible higher education environment that included traditional classroom learning with distance learning. This made access to higher education convenient for working students and those who could not afford traditional college.

Various delivery methods used in the second half of the 20th century included live broadcasts, taped lessons, traditional correspondence lessons done entirely through the mail, and teleconferencing. New computer technologies radically changed the delivery methods, with many schools changing to online learning modules that could be either entirely or partially complete through the Internet.

Today, distance learning is heavily dependent on the use of the online learning environment. Programs have been developed that conveniently allow students to communicate with teachers and other students in online discussions. Universities are increasingly offering expanded distance learning opportunities with many degrees available entirely through convenient distance education.