History of Virtual Learning Environments: The Beginnings
Wikipedia defines distance learning as an instructional system that delivers instruction to students that are not physically in a classroom. In the Wikipedia article “History of virtual learning environments”, virtual learning environments (VLE) are described as systems designed to help teachers manage educational courses using the computers and networks which includes distant learning. One of the first noted distance or correspondence courses was offered by Caleb Phillipps in 1728 which was shorthand. Near the end of the 1800’s a few universities offered distance courses. In 1906 The University of Wisconsin-Extension became the first true distance learning institution.
One of the first use of technology in distance learning was radio. “In the years between the World Wars (1918-1946), the federal government granted radio broadcasting licenses to 202 colleges, universities, and school boards (Nasseh, 1997)”. However by 1940 there was only one college-level credit offered by radio and it did not attract enrollment. “In the 1930s yet another major development in distance education appeared—the television (Hinkle, 2009)”. In 1953 the University of Houston offers the first college course via the television. These classes were offered at night so students who worked could watch. They were delivered through their public television station, KUHT. By 1960 KUHT was offering over 100,000 semester hours.
In the early 1960 researchers at MIT, UCLA and DARPA started discussing the possibility of globally connecting computers. They explored the use of packets for communications instead of circuits. “In 1965 working with Thomas Merrill, Roberts connected the TX-2 computer in Massachusetts to the Q-32 in California with a low speed dial-up telephone line creating the first (however small) wide-area computer network ever built (Leiner ,et al. , 2010)”. In 1964 the Pennsylvania State University, College of Education establishes a Computer Assisted Instruction Lab and the Altoona Area School District in Pennsylvania starting using computers to instruct students. IBM introduce COURSEWRITER and online interactive Computer Assisted Instruction program in 1965 for the IBM 1500.
In 1975 the first personal computers were introduced. It was the MITS Altair 8800. Computer Based Instruction was being used in schools and on college campuses. The introduction of the personal computer would take virtual learning environments to another level. “Although the World Wide Web had been created many years earlier, it was in 1995 that it rocketed into public view (Knight, 2010)”.
Hinkle, L .(2009). Distance education history: The early years of distance
learning. Retrieved June 5, 2010 from http://www.brighthub.com/
eduation/online-learning/articles/24404.aspx#ixzz0q7hTrAAT
Knight, D. (2001). Personal computer history: The first 25 years. Retrieved
June 6, 2010 from http://lowendmac.com/lowendpc/history/
Index.shtml
Leiner, B., et al. (2010) A brief history of the internet. Retrieved June 6,
2010 from http://wwwisoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml
Nasseh, B. (1997). A brief history of distance education. Retrieved June 5,
2010 from http://www.seniornet.org/edu/art/history.html
Wikipedia. (2009). History of virtual environments. Retrieved June 3, 2010
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_virtual_learning_
environments
5 comments:
Nice Job Louria! I was wondering what you thoughts were on VLE's and do you use anything similar on your campus?
After reading this information it is very interesting that something that seems so fresh and new existed so long ago. The progress of technology has allowed the VLE to grow and the education/training to work for everyone to help meet the needs for all. I like the idea that the VLE has opened the world to being educated from any where in the world!
My post was also on the “History of Virtual Learning Environments”. It is interesting to see that the history of VLEs date back to 1728 by way of a correspondence course. Even up to the early 1980s the correspondence was still the main method of distance education. However, the rise of online courses can be ties to the increase number of personal computers in the home. Matter of fact, the personal computer along with other communication technology threatens the very existence of the U.S. Post Office, which was a critical component to the correspondence course. Traditional brick and mortar schools will begin to feel the same type pressure to survive the rise in virtual learning environments. The only way traditional schools will survive in the future is if they embrace new education technology and use it to their advantage.
One of the first use of technology in distance learning was radio. “In the years between the World Wars (1918-1946), the federal government granted radio broadcasting licenses to 202 colleges, universities, and school boards (Nasseh, 1997)”. However by 1940 there was only one college-level credit offered by radio and it did not attract enrollment. I missed this one. I am clearly, from this assignment, learning the definition of virtual. The radio indeed is one of tools that qualifies as a virtual medium if used for learning. Also, the one college course being offered by the radio is excellent. I am going to take this information to my students. Good Job.
In the expansive 1990’s, I was working at Southern Pacific Transportation Company as a Facilities Project Manager designing a Star Wars room for the communications department. My goal was to design the room with the new Smart board that had rear projection 72 inches wide this room had to hold ten engineers at a time. They all had to view the screen and work in very dark environment however still and have visibility to read documents. I found this project very challenging. The coordination of people, equipment, telephone,IMS, and furniture in a building built in the early 1920’s. It’s great to understand the history from the other side.
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