To begin discussing the history of online education, we first need to take a look at the history of distance learning to show the progress that has been made. The following is an abbreviated timeline that covers the history of distance learning to online education today:
1728 - An advertisement is published in the Boston Gazette seeking students for shorthand lessons to be sent weekly
1840s- The development of the postal service leads to the growth of commercial correspondence colleges
1858 - The University of London becomes the first university to offer distance learning degrees
1937 - The modern digital computer is born
1953 - The University of Houston offers the first televised college credit classes via KUHT, the first public TV station in the U.S.
1960 - University of Illinois scientists develop PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations), a computer-based learning system
1969 - ARPA, a division of the U.S. Department of Defense, creates ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), a communication system that is the forefather to the Internet
1976 - The University of Phoenix, founded by Dr. John Sperling, opens for business with eight students, with its focus on working adults
1989 - Tim Berners-Lee, a British engineer and computer scientist, creates what would be known as the World Wide Web
1989 - The University of Phoenix launches the first online university program to offer Bachelors and Masters degrees
1993 - The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) releases the graphical web browser Mosaic, which helps launch the Internet boom with its user-friendly interface.
1994 - CalCampus introduces the concept of complete online curriculum
1995 - WeBWorK, a Perl-based system for delivering homework problems over the web, is developed
1996 - Jones International University becomes the first accredited fully web-based university
2009 - President Obama pledges $500 million for online courses and materials
In 1989, the University of Phoenix became the first university to offer Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs through the Internet. The target audience was working adults who were unable to find time to attend day or evening classes or lived too far from the nearest university campus. Although this method of delivery was convenient, it did have its limitations. Computers weren’t nearly as fast and reliable as they are today, web browsers were limited in functionality, and Internet connection speeds were very slow, making the transfer of information very time-consuming . While the concept was there, these limitations often made online education a frustrating process.
As years passed, the possibilities of online education became more realistic with advancements in technology. Computer processor speed vastly improved and web browsers became more user-friendly, making online education more widely available. However, the biggest impact for online education students was the improvement in Internet connection speeds. Once high-speed Internet became readily available, the promise of online schools was becoming a reality. Internet access, in combination with web-related software, created exciting opportunities for online schools as they could offer more degree programs, communication options, and course content, With an increased demand in online education, more and more universities joined the University of Phoenix, creating the competitive industry we see today.
Go to Part 1 - Introduction
Go to Part 3 - How Did Online Education Become What it is Today?
