Evolution of Computer-Based Distance Learning

Abstract

Distance learning (DL), distance education, remote education, online learning, e-learning, learning at a distance, and distributed learning are all synonyms for electronic learning, a phenomenon that over 80 years has evolved into the delivery of instruction via the Internet. The legacy of those years has provided a theoretical foundation and a history of best practices that can offer today’s distance learning practitioners a sound basis for exploring new instructional models utilizing technologies of the 21st century. This article describes some of the major milestones and accomplishments upon which today’s computer-based distance learning tools and practices are based.