Online learning may be a relatively new concept. But, distance learning in the form of correspondence courses has been around for over 100 years. In fact, portable projectors were used for visual distance learning 95 years ago. A new article from the Imperial Valley News discusses the progress of distance learning technology and formats. Here's a blurb:

"Ninety-five years ago, Dr. DeVry, a budding motion picture technology engineer in Chicago, unveiled the prototype of his soon-to-be-famous Model E 35mm portable movie projector, or as Dr. DeVry liked to call it, his "Theater in a Suitcase." For the first time, moving images, whether of foreign societies in motion or step-by-step instructions for complex tasks, could be distributed to student audiences regardless of their location. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, where the projector is part of its Photographic History Collection, called DeVry's 1912 silent movie projector the most advanced educational-enabling technology of its time."

We sure have come a long way.