Development of Distance Education

United States
1873 Anna Ticknor Society to Encourage Study at Home focus on education for women 1874 Illinois Wesleyan University Correspondence degrees obtained in absentia 1880s Chautauqua College of Liberal Arts Correspondence education 1920s Educational Radio (Approved for 202 colleges, universities and school boards) 1940s Television used for distance education to broadcast educational programs 1960s and 70s High interest in informal education and rapid increase in cost in traditional education 1980s and 90s Teleconferencing systems allowed synchronous learning at a distance

China
1960 Radio and TV Beijing Radio and Beijing TV University by 1966, 8000 students had graduated from program 1976 Chinese students enrolling in higher education only 1%, unchanged throughout their history 1986 One-third of higher education students using TV Universities 1999 5 distance education universities 2001 45 distance education universities 2007 68 distance education universities 2005 Government wants a massification rate of students enrolled to be 19% and 40% by 2020 2007 A way to reach rural areas using Internet and TV 1960s Educated people in China needed for socialism construction 1970s Government needed millions of skilled workers for their emerging manufacturing environment 2000s way to reach rural area middle school aged and high school aged youth 2000s To stay globally competitive, more students required to be educated

1990s and Up Computer networks being built allowing communication for distance education - Industrial Revolution need for trained Reasons for and skilled workforce Developments - Correspondence allowed those from remote areas and who could not afford high cost of traditional studies. Also working adults could take part in these courses - Correspondence studies to educate women, and to acculturate immigrants into American society through learning - In early 20th Century, Correspondence courses provided another revenue stream - Correspondence Style studies go away as some academics still skeptical of the usefulness - Distance Education provided for Army training at lower cost. Could reach more soldiers on new developments - Use of online programs revenue stream and way to stay competitive globally with other students