Distance Learning: When Did It Start and How Did We Get Here?

Did you know that distance learning didn’t start with the internet? It’s been around for way longer—think handwritten assignments traveling by horse and train. People have been figuring out ways to study from home since the 1800s. Back then, it meant waiting weeks for lessons to drop into your mailbox. No notifications, no Zoom fatigue—just you, your books, and a lot of patience.

The whole idea started when folks realized not everyone could drop everything and sit in a classroom, especially if you lived far from a school or had a job to hold down. Early distance courses gave people real career boosts: future nurses, bookkeepers, and writers learned their trade from kitchen tables.

This isn’t just a story about technology—distance learning is about access. Even now, people tune into lessons from internet cafés, noisy apartments, or, in my case, battling for desk space with Leo, my dog, who thinks my webcam is secretly a snack machine. If you're wondering how we went from horses delivering homework to streaming live lectures, you’re in the right place.

• The Mailman Revolution: First Steps in Distance Learning
• Making the Leap: Radio, TV, and Old-School Tech
• The Internet Arrives: Learning Goes Digital
• From Dial-Up to Zoom: Online Schools Take Off
• Weird Moments and Lesser-Known Facts
• Tips to Make Distance Learning Actually Work

The Mailman Revolution: First Steps in Distance Learning

Imagine trying to learn something new, but the nearest teacher lives two towns over and you can’t just hop in a car or join a Zoom call. That’s exactly why distance learning got its start. The oldest known example popped up in 1728, when a guy named Caleb Phillips in Boston advertised “lessons in shorthand” by mail in a local newspaper. People could simply sign up, get lessons sent to them, practice at home, and mail back their work for correction.

Things really took off in the 1840s, when Sir Isaac Pitman, who invented a shorthand system in England, sent out learning materials by postcard. Students would write out their assignments and send them back to him for feedback. This was the real birth of what we now call distance learning.

By the late 1800s, schools in Europe and the U.S. were offering full correspondence courses. The University of London led the way in 1858, launching its “External Programme” so people outside the city—and even the country—could earn a recognized degree. In the U.S., the University of Chicago was famous for its Correspondence Study Division in the early 1900s, serving thousands who were too busy, too broke, or too far away to sit in a lecture hall.

• People had to be super patient—sometimes assignments took weeks or even months to go back and forth.
• Students used mail not just for homework, but to ask questions and get answers from teachers hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
• Entire careers got a boost: many folks, especially women, studied teaching, nursing, and bookkeeping by mail.

Just to give you a sense of scale, check out these numbers from the early days:

All this happened without computers, phones, or even decent roads. You had to really want to learn! This whole mail-based system paved the way for all the digital stuff we have today.

Making the Leap: Radio, TV, and Old-School Tech

Before the web took over, distance learning got a major upgrade thanks to technology most of us now pretty much ignore: radio and TV. In the 1920s and 1930s, universities like the University of Iowa started running for-credit courses over the radio. It sounds wild now, but professors would teach entire classes over the airwaves. You could literally have class going on in your living room while you ate breakfast or walked the dog (I guarantee Leo would have loved this era).

By the 1950s, television became the new classroom. In the United States, the Chicago TV College aired classes on local stations right after cartoons. The UK joined in with the BBC's "Television for Schools"—millions of kids and teachers tuned in. Companies even designed special educational TVs for classrooms and homes.

Here's a quick look at some key milestones:

Some old-school tech stuck around much longer than people think. Audio cassettes—yes, actual plastic tapes—were standard for language lessons well into the 1990s. Universities mailed out VHS tapes for students to watch at home if they missed a lecture.

• If your only device was a radio, you could still join a class. Students sent questions in by mail and got replies weeks later.
• TV learning included quizzes and call-in shows, so it wasn't just passive watching. Kids actually answered live questions to win prizes or extra help.
• Film projectors and cassettes meant those without live broadcasts could still study at their own speed.

The main takeaway? Distance learning always finds a way. From distance learning over radio to VHS tapes, each new gadget or tech opened a bigger window for people to grab an education, no matter where they sat or how fast their local postman worked. Today, it feels weird imagining a class taught by radio, but for thousands of learners, it totally worked.

The Internet Arrives: Learning Goes Digital

The real game-changer for distance learning was when the internet showed up in the 1990s. No more snail mail or waiting weeks for feedback—students and teachers could finally interact in real-time, even if they lived on different continents. Places like the University of Phoenix led the way by setting up the first fully online college degree program in 1989, and things just exploded from there.

By 1993, places like Jones International University were handing out degrees completely online, which sounded crazy back then. Suddenly, anyone with a dial-up modem could join a class, get homework instantly, and ask questions right away—not just at 3PM if you happened to live near campus. This opened the door for people who needed flexibility, like parents, busy workers, or folks living in rural areas.

Once internet speeds got faster in the 2000s, live video classes, group chats, and online quizzes became the new normal. Even MIT, Harvard, and Stanford started giving away serious courses for free in the early 2000s—anyone in the world could practice coding or check out neuroscience lectures without paying a penny.

Today, you barely need more than a smartphone to sign up for a course and watch a lecture during your lunch break. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, schools and universities everywhere had to switch online almost overnight. Some people thought distance education was a backup option, but now it’s just education—no matter where you are.

• If you’re thinking of taking an online course, find platforms with good student reviews and solid tech support. A glitchy website is the fastest way to kill your motivation.
• Keep an eye out for courses that let you talk to instructors and other students in real-time. It’s way easier to stick with it if you don’t feel like you’re shouting into the void.
• Set a simple routine and a dedicated workspace. Even my dog Leo respects the "study corner" (most days anyway).

The internet put distance learning in everyone’s pocket. It’s not just for emergencies or side hobbies—it’s how millions build their careers and learn new stuff every day.

From Dial-Up to Zoom: Online Schools Take Off

If you grew up in the '90s or early 2000s, you probably remember the weird screechy sound of dial-up internet. Believe it or not, that was when distance learning took a huge leap forward. Colleges like Penn State, University of Phoenix, and Britain’s Open University were already experimenting with putting classes online. These early online courses felt more like clunky chat rooms, but at the time they were mind-blowing—suddenly, your classroom could be anywhere that had a phone line and a computer.

Back then, classes were mostly just text or maybe a slow-loading PowerPoint. You had to log in at specific times or check your email a million times a day waiting for a reply from your professor. Forget about video—most home internet couldn’t handle it. But even with all that, people loved the freedom. If you had kids, a full-time job, or lived somewhere rural, online schools were a gamechanger.

By the mid-2000s, internet connections got faster. That’s when things really took off. Suddenly, schools could add audio, video, and even live sessions. In 2002, MIT launched its OpenCourseWare project, letting anyone around the world access real course materials for free. This was a big deal and pushed other big-name schools like Stanford and Yale to follow. Platforms like Blackboard, Moodle, and later Canvas let teachers organize everything in one place. Students could hand in assignments, take quizzes, and chat with their classmates—all online.

Then came Zoom and other live video tools. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 kicked things into turbo mode: pretty much every school, from kindergartens to universities, scrambled online overnight. Suddenly, Zoom lectures and breakout rooms became a daily thing. Even now, tons of schools keep blending online and face-to-face classes.

• Tip: If you’re picking an online school, always check if it’s accredited and has real support for students who aren’t tech wizards.
• Set up a work zone at home—even if it’s just a corner—so you can stay focused (trust me, this really helps if you have pets or roommates sneaking by).
• Try to keep a routine. Online learning is super flexible, but a bit of structure keeps you sane.

Now, almost anything can be learned remotely. From coding bootcamps to learning how to bake bread, all you really need is internet, motivation, and a device—no screechy dial-up required.

Weird Moments and Lesser-Known Facts

Distance learning has some wild stories, weird flops, and just plain strange turns. For example, back in 1925, a radio station in Chicago broadcasted entire classes by reading from textbooks on air. Kids would sit by the radio, pencils ready, trying to keep up. One station even played music between lessons, in case students needed a break. Pretty creative—although not everyone was convinced that dancing in the living room counted as homework.

Here’s another odd one: In the 1930s, the University of London let students all over the world take degrees by sending in assignments—no need to ever step foot on campus. One legend says a British prisoner of war in WWII finished his law degree while stuck behind enemy lines. He mailed essays back to London from the camp and passed his finals from a cell.

Don’t forget about TV schools—thousands of American students in the 1950s watched classes beamed to their living rooms. There were even early "telecourses" where you’d actually dial in with a rotary phone to talk to your teacher on air. Imagine trying that if your parents needed the line for a call!

Now, here are some facts and stats that might just blow your mind:

By the way, not everything worked out: In the ’90s, a mail-based airline pilot training school popped up in the US. Officials shut it down after realizing nobody was checking if the "students" had ever set foot in an actual plane. Oops.

Totally random tip? If you’re using distance learning today and feel tired, you’re not alone. Lassitude isn’t just for kids—adults get “Zoomed out” too. The difference: now you can log off, walk your dog, and maybe come back later with a snack. Try that in a 1920s radio school.

Tips to Make Distance Learning Actually Work

Getting the most out of distance learning isn't just about having a laptop and Wi-Fi. It's about knowing what really helps you learn when nobody's watching over your shoulder. Here’s what works, and some facts to back it up.

Plan your routine. The biggest reason people drop online classes? No structure. Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research found dropout rates for online courses are about 12% higher without a set schedule. Setting regular "class" times and sticking to them helps keep your brain in school mode—even if you're sitting in pajamas.

• Stick to the same start and finish times.
• Set goals for each session, like "finish Chapter 3" or "complete the quiz."
• Review tomorrow’s material at the end of today’s session—it helps your brain remember more.

Make a real workspace. Leo (my dog) thinks the whole apartment is his, but having one spot just for studying tells your brain it’s time to focus. The American Psychological Association reported people are 25% more likely to finish tasks on time when they have a specific space for work or study.

Stay social (even on screens). Isolation is a real problem in remote learning. Online students who chat with classmates—through group chats, forums, or quick video calls—report being 40% less likely to quit their program. If your class has a discussion board, use it. Trust me, it beats staring at a blank screen alone.

• Find a buddy or small group to swap notes with weekly.
• Don’t skip instructor office hours—these can clear up confusion way faster than emails.
• If you feel lost, ask questions (even if you think they’re dumb—they’re not).

Use breaks, not just coffee runs. Long video calls fry your brain. The University of Illinois found that taking even tiny breaks (just a five-minute walk around the room) boosts focus and memory. Use timers to split your study into 25-minute blocks, with five minutes off. It’s called the Pomodoro Technique—and it really works.

Got kids, pets, or chaos at home? You’re not alone. Noise-canceling headphones and using “Do Not Disturb” on your phone can make a world of difference. If distractions are a problem, apps like Freedom or Cold Turkey can block your social feeds while you work.

*Based on 2023 data from the Online Learning Consortium survey with over 5,000 remote learners.

Distance learning isn’t always easy, but it works if you play to its strengths. Set up your space, plan your time, and don’t be afraid to talk to classmates. You might just end up liking it better than a crowded classroom.