History of distance education

Have you ever followed a recipe from a cooking show, worked out to an exercise video, or put together a cabinet following the illustrations of an IKEA manual? Congratulations – you're a successful student of distance education.

Distance education is hardly a new phenomenon – distance learning and off-campus study has been available from recognised learning institutions since the establishment of a national postal delivery system. Mass media technology, including radio and television, have revolutionised the accessibility and popularity of distance education courses, with as many as 11% of all higher education degrees completed via distance learning in 1993. Today, the internet and mobile technology have made online study a viable and flexible option for many working adults – meanwhile distance education courses are a popular choice for overseas students.

Distance education – facts and figures

• Isaac Pitman is credited as being one of the first formal providers of distance learning – providing distance education courses in shorthand in Bath, England, in 1840. His students mailed in short passages copied out of the Bible for assessment.
• The first distance education degree was offered by the University of London in 1858 through its External Programme.
• In 1910, International Correspondence Schools (ICS), a forerunner of Open Colleges (formerly Cengage Education), established a permanent infrastucture in Australia. Today, Open Colleges is one of Australia's leading distance learning providers. During its 100-year history, Open Colleges has achieved more than 700,000 enrolments.
• The University of Queensland in 1911 established its Department of Correspondence Studies, a first in Australia, and the second institution to offer a distance education program in the world. The course was conducted by mail correspondence.
• In the US, the government granted 202 radio broadcasting licences to education providers between 1910 and 1920. While distance education by radio was a little slow on the uptake, it paved the way for instructional television programs – and the likes of TV personalities such as chef Julia Child and fitness guru Richard Simmons.
• In the US, over 20% of all U.S. higher education students were taking at least one online course in the autumn of 2007, according to a study completed by the Sloan Consortium.
• In 1993, 64,000 external students enrolled in higher education courses in Australian education institutions, reports the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This represented 11% of all higher education student enrolments. The Queensland Government reports 17% of students undertook their university courses via distance education in 2009.
• In 2000, around 34,900 or 19% of all overseas students enrolled in Australian educational institutions were studying offshore from countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong (ABS).
• Today, technologies such as VoIP, video conferencing, broadcast satellite, internet radio, live streaming and webinars allow for a greater degree of interactivity and synchronised communication, offering distance education students a new level of support from tutors and peers. Distance education is also being utilised by non-educational institutions, such as companies providing online training courses for employees.

The rate of enrolment in distance education courses across the world is growing in leaps and bounds. Students are taking advantage of the numerous benefits that distance learning provides, including flexible study, affordable pricing and the overall success of many study-at-home programs. Meanwhile, many career professionals utilise distance education opportunities to stay up to date with vocational developments and to help them take the next step in their career paths.

Learn about the distance education courses available at Open Colleges.