Distance Learning Coordinators

The earliest form of distance education was the correspondence education that was offered in Europe and the United States in the early 1800s. British educator Sir Isaac Pitman is considered an early founder of the distance education course. In 1840, he taught a class in shorthand by mailing assignments to students and having them mail their completed work back to him. This education method soon caught on with schools and in 1858, the University of London was the first to offer degrees through distance learning correspondence courses.

The development of radio in the 1920s and 1930s brought with it distance education courses that were broadcast to students. Pennsylvania State College aired education courses on radio networks. In the 1950s, television became another medium through which education courses were shared. For example, New York University collaborated with CBS to broadcast the TV series Sunrise Semester, which featured college-level courses for credit toward a degree.

Virtual classrooms were created starting in the late 1980s and 1990s, with the growth of computers, e-mail, and the Internet. In 1985, the New School in New York City was among the first colleges to offer online courses for graduate degree credit. By the end of the 1990s, many schools established completely online education programs. 

Distance education institutions are accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. This organization was established in 1926 as the National Home Study Council, with the mission of promoting educational quality and ethical business practices for correspondence education programs. 

Distance learning coordinators today work for online-only colleges and universities and also for brick-and-mortar colleges, universities, and other academic institutions with distance education programs. They use various computer systems and software programs to coordinate education programs and share information with faculty, students, and distance education staff.