Distance learning has existed in some form since the 18th century, beginning with lessons sent by mail. It expanded with the emergence of new technologies like radio and television in the early 20th century. The development of the internet in the late 20th century caused online education to explode, with the number of students taking online courses growing to over 5.5 million by 2009. While distance learning provides greater flexibility and access to education, it also presents challenges like lack of social interaction and dependence on functioning technology. Overall, it has grown increasingly popular as a way to learn with its enrollments increasing much faster than traditional higher education in recent years.

1. J I L L T H O M P S O N
A Brief History of Distance
Learning

2. What is Distance Learning?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6dHK2cXatM&f
eature=player_detailpage
distance learning
noun education in which students receive instruction
over the Internet, from a video, etc., instead of going to
school.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/distance+lea
rning)

3. What is Distance Learning?
 These may be the modern definitions and views of
distance learning, but let’s take a look at the history
of distance learning and how it evolved to have a
more concrete understanding of this concept.

4. Distance learning was established when?
 Many people think that distance learning is a
relatively new concept, but the word’s first distance
learning course was established in 1728 in Boston.
 Short hand was taught via weekly lessons that were
sent by mail and advertised in the Boston Gazette.

5. The early days of distance education
• The first distance
learning class was
established
consisting of weekly
lessons by mail
1728
• Shorthand was
taught by
correspondence in
Great Britain
1840
• The International
Correspondence
School was founded
and reached over 1
million students in
less than 20 years.
1891

6. The emergence of technology
• Penn State received an
educational license from
the FCC and officially
offers courses through
the radio.
1922
• University of Houston is
one of the first colleges
to offer televised
courses
1953 •University of Wisconsin
offered the first state
wide telephone based
education program
1965

7. The rise of the Internet
• The Internet is founded
1969
• The Open University in
Great Britain is
established with a
mission of open access.
1972 •Coastline Community
College is founded as the
first “virtual college”
without a physical
campus
1976

8. Online education
• The Computer Assisted
Learning Center (CALC) is
founded
1982
• Nova Southeastern
University establishes a
Graduate School of
Computer and Information
Sciences, the first online
graduate degree offered
through online courses
1985 •The University of Phoenix
online campus is established
as the first public university
to offer online degrees
1989

9. Online education explodes
• Western Governor’s
University is
founded to
maximize distance
learning resources
1995
• Educational tools
are unveiled
including
Blackboard and
eCollege
1999 •81% of colleges offer
at least one online
class
2003

10. Distance Learning will never be the same
• YouTube is created
2005
• Kahn Academy
offering free video
tutorials is launched
2006 •The amount of
students taking at
least one online course
reaches 5.5 million
2009

11. Benefits of Distance Learning
 Flexibility. Students can work wherever and
whenever it is convenient for them. It also will allow
for students to balance a family, work and classes.
 Lower Costs. Prices of online courses are generally
less expensive and the cost of commuting is not a
factor.

12. Benefits of Distance Learning
 Endless options for schools. Even if you live in a
community lacking higher education, distance
learning allows you to choose from a vast array of
schools.
 Diversity. Students learn from people all over the
country… and the world.

13. Challenges of Distance Learning
 Lack of social interaction. Most likely you will
have some interaction on chat rooms, discussion
boards and through email, but the experience will be
quite different than traditional courses.
 Technical Issues. Technology itself can be one of
the biggest challenges- distance learning requires
students to have an updated operating system,
advanced software, an Internet connection and some
tech-savvy. Students may struggle with the
fundamentals of an online program and become
frustrated with accessing required files.

14. Challenges of Distance Learning
 Isolation. Distance-learning students lack the
ability to interact face-to-face with faculty and peers,
which can lead them to doubt their own abilities.
 Lack of Support. Students who are enrolled in
100-percent online learning programs often lack the
support and services available on a traditional
campus. Without support in place, students who are
struggling with course material may become
frustrated and disengaged, leading them to drop out.

15. Current status of distance learning
 According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
IPEDS, 5.5 million students have taken at least one online course,
which is approximately one-quarter of the current total enrollment.
 The share of graduate students enrolled in fully online programs
was twice as high as the share of undergraduates -- 22 to 11 percent
 Undergraduates were almost twice as likely as graduate students to
take a combination of face-to-face and online courses -- 14.2 to 7.8
percent.
Read more:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/06/03/us-releases-
data-distance-education-enrollments#ixzz35EEHSH50
Inside Higher Ed

16. The Future of Distance Learning
 Online education enrollments increased 21%
between 2008 and 2009 while higher education
enrollments only increased 2% between 2008 and
2009

17. The Future of Distance Learning
 The statistics of online learning speak for
themselves. Find them here:
 http://youtu.be/rdamXk-ARuA

18. Distance Learning is here to stay
 Advances in distance learning have paralleled with
the development of new technologies. Just imagine
what technological advancements in the future will
influence the world of distance learning!