Historical Perspectives on the Global View
The first widespread use of distance _education occurred with the development of reliable postal mail service in the 1800’s. This came in the form of correspondence courses both in the US and Great Britain. After which educational radio stations received licenses to deliver distance education courses in the US. Television also played a role in distance education, and by the 1930’s educational television programs were being broadcasted. Cable and Satellite television delivery of educational programs began in the 1980’s and focus quickly shifted to fiber-optic communications because it allowed for the expansion of live, two-way, high quality audio and video systems. However, because of the high cost of fiber-optic systems, distance education turned towards computer mediated communications. Finally, in the mid-80’s, with the explosive growth of the Internet, both credit and non-credit courses started being offered online.
Overall, there seemed to be more factors in the US that contributed and drove the expansion of distance education from a social, economical and political stand point. However, Open University changed the way distance education was practiced all over the world. One of the largest, most influential Open Universities was founded in Great Britain, not in the US (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2011). On the other hand, most of the major technological advancements occurred in the US.
for the United States and Great Britain
Developments |
United States |
Great Britain |
Correspondence Study |
1800s - Frederick
Jackson Turner ran correspondence program for the University of Wisconsin
late 1800s. 1873 – Anna Ticknor created society
to encourage studies at home for women of all classes. 1891 – Thomas J. Foster began
correspondence course in mining. 1901 – Moody Bible Institute
formed correspondence department |
1840 - Sir Issac Pitman is credited
with inventing correspondence courses by mail, which represented the first
phase of distance education. 1843 – Phonographic
Correspondence Society created 1878 – Skerry’s College
in Edinburgh 1887 – University
Correspondence College in London |
Electronic Communications |
1920’s - Federal
government issued the first educational radio licenses to deliver distance
education courses. 1930’s - The world's
first educational television programs were broadcast from the University of
Iowa. 1980’s - The first
state educational satellite system, Learn/Alaska, offered six hours of
instruction daily to 100 villages. |
|
Distance Universities |
1971 – New York State’s
Empire State College (NYSES), first US open university. |
1969 - United Kingdom's Open
University (OU) was founded. |
Contributing Factors to Expansion |
· Development of
reliable postal mail service systems · University
extension movement · World War I
and II · Educational
opportunities for women and their participation · Escalating
cost of traditional education · University
expansion of programs · Growth of
career-oriented activities |
· Development of
reliable postal mail service systems · Invention of
Phonograph · University
extension movement · World War I
and II |
Technological Advancements |
Instructional
Radio Television Cable
and Satellite Computer Fiber-optic Internet Advancement
in telecommunications & computer technologies |
Instructional
Radio Television Computer Internet |