Other forms of long distance college in the past?

Has there been forms of long distance college education besides online in the past?

Any historical person in the world earned a degree through a mailing system or other form of long distance contact?

Would be interesting!

 

There have been other avenues of DL. There have been correspondence coursework where you mail your assignments in. Global University does it that way, they also have some classes online too. I believe that CCU does it that way too.

 

The Open University (UK) opened in 1969, first enrolment in 1971 - that's a while before on-line courses, I guess.
Read here: Open University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They were using some course-based TV broadcasts right from Day 1. I believe these were largely discontinued in 2006. I didn't know (previously) that the Open University (UK) is also RA (Middle States).

Johann

 

Penn State started offering correspondence courses for farmers in 1892.

That is just a bit before the days of the internet.

 

Penn Foster also started in the 1890s, as International Correspondence Schools - but no degrees here until their newest incarnation as Penn Foster, well into Internet days. Big Canadian distance-school (well, as big as it gets here in Canada , I suppose) Athabasca U. taught its first distance course in the early 1970s -read here: History : Athabasca University

Back in the mid-70s, over a period of 3 years, I took half-a-dozen correspondence courses run by another Canadian university. They weren't for a degree, however; they were for a business designation.

Johann

 

I've read in the past that people were learning by distance as far back as ancient Africa. I can't remember where I read it.

I remember reading about some prominent U.S. Statesmen who were educated by distance in different capacities... can't remember where I read that either. Now I want to go on a hunt to find the information.

 

The University of London has been offering courses and degree programs via correspondence since 1858.

UNISA (University of South Africa) began offering courses and degree programs via correspondence in 1946.

While imprisoned on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from The University of London (no small feat!).

 

You might want to look at this as a starting point Distance education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

More reading - this is about USAFI for USA military going back to WWII United States Armed Forces Institute, WHi-49615

 

"In 1910, 50 students were enrolled in extension courses, taught by regular Ohio University faculty members in the communities of Jackson, Logan, Nelsonville, and Pomeroy. In 1914, three faculty members were hired full-time to spend their weeks riding circuit around southern and southeastern Ohio, delivering courses. C. L. Martzolff was appointed the first Director of Extension in 1916. OU began offering correspondence courses in 1924." - From Ohio University Archives.

 

A wonderful contribution from the DETC, established as the National Home Study Council in 1926: The History of the Distance Education and Training Council, 1926-2001 [pdf file; free ebook].

 

Here is a list of notable alumni from U of London that includes H. G. Wells, Sir Alec Issigonis (the designer of the original Mini), and Sir Barnes Wallace (the subject of my MAS thesis).
Notable Alumni - Alumni - University of London International Programmes