Distance Learning History and Terminology - CoursePal Online Learning Tutorial

Lesson 1 Online Learning Basics
Distance Learning History and Terminology

Distance learning?  Online learning? eLearning?  Online Education?  Distributed Learning...?  The terminology can be almost as confusing as sorting through all the available online learning sites.  In simple terms, online learning refers to...

 "...learning primarily via the Internet by students at remote locations, including their homes." 

As shown below, online learning is really just a part of the broader category 'distance learning.'   Distance learning refers to any learning in which the instructor and students are separated by time, location, or both.  Historically the term distance learning has meant correspondence study.  The practice itself dates back over 100 years. 

The alt.education.distance FAQ provides an excellent discussion on the history of distance education including online learning.  Or you can go here for a neat distance learning timeline showing the progression of distance learning.