29 Nov
History of Distance Learning
I ran across a recent USA Today article on Distance Learning entitled “Distance Learning gets its close-up.” I found the following excerpt on the origin of Distance Learning somewhat interesting:
For all its technological innovations, distance education isn’t new. In 1840, Sir Isaac Pitman, a London educator, challenged country dwellers to translate Bible verses into shorthand and ship results to his city office for grading.
That makes him the likely founder of distance education, according to Michael Lambert, executive director of the Distance Education and Training Council, a national accrediting body for distance education programs.