History of eLearning: Evolution from Stenography to Modern 2025 LMS Platforms

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

There is no question that elearning is greatly improving people’s standard of living. However, many people still lack an understanding of elearning‘s origins, its pioneering thinkers, and its evolution to its current state.

The word “elearning," originally used in a 1999 CBT Systems lecture, refers to a strategy for acquiring knowledge and skills through digital channels like the internet and other electronic media.

The invention of reading and writing, teaching as a profession, and the innovation of print and electronic technology all led to the invention of elearning. Besides instructional purposes, elearning also strives for professional, entrepreneurial, and personal growth and success. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the relevant parts of the history of e learning.

The eLearning History Table of Contents

The 1840s: Stenography
The 1960s: Computer-Based Education
1976: Internet-Based Courses
The 1990s: LMS
The 2000s: Rise of the MOOC
AI on Modern eLearning Platforms
What Are the Cost-Effective Benefits and Accessible Opportunities of Modern eLearning?
How Does the Return on Investment of eLearning Compare to Traditional Education?
What Challenges Impact the Overall Quality of Modern eLearning?
Are Online Credentials Equivalent to Traditional Degrees?
How Can eLearning Accelerate Career Advancement Through Skill Development?
What Does the Future of eLearning Look Like?
How Can Learners Evaluate and Select High-Quality eLearning Platforms?
eLearning Today

The eLearning Timeline

The 1840s: Stenography

Wotton-under-Edge Teacher Isaac Pitman used correspondence to teach shorthand (stenography) to his students (Leerbeleving, n.d.). He would send assignments to his students via mail and they would mail back their assignments to him for assessment. This writing form was intended to improve writing speed and was commonly used by secretaries, journalists, and other professionals whose works involve note-taking or writing.

1924: “Automatic Teacher"

Ohio University Educational Psychology Professor Sidney Pressey devised the testing machine “Automatic Teacher" (“The History of E-Learning," 2017). This testing machine looked like a typewriter and was used to answer multiple-choice questions. It had a window showing a question and four choices of answers. Students had to choose the right answer among the four choices. The machine would not proceed to the next question until the correct answer was chosen. Hence, students could tell whether their answers were correct or not. Unfortunately, the Pressey machine did not succeed due to a lack of interest and investment from educators.

1954: “GLIDER"

Harvard Professor BF Skinner devised the teaching machine “GLIDER" that allowed schools to facilitate programmed instruction to their students (“The History of E-Learning," 2017). This machine appeared like a box containing a series of questions. A small window would show each question, which could be answered through a certain technique and by writing the answer down on paper. Students who would give the correct answer would advance to the next step and get commended. Unlike Pressey’s machine that was proposed to test students, Skinner’s machine was proposed to teach students.

It was also in the 50s when institutions realized how radios could be of great help to teaching and learning (Keegan, 2020). Back then, numerous radio programs broadcasted subjects such as religion, politics, current events, economics, and science. Radio, along with television, became a helpful tool in improving education up to the 60s and even World War II.

The 1960s: Computer-Based Education

And now we bring learning management system history into the timeline. Although the answer to the question of who invented e learning is unclear, Skinner’s GLIDER inspired the invention of the first computer-based training (CBT) program. Developers Daniel Alpert and Don Bitzer invented Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations (PLATO) (Keegan, 2020). PLATO was only supposed to carry out computer-based education to improve student literacy, but it also became a backbone in modern multi-user computing. This program was also originally invented for University of Illinois students but ended up being used in schools all over the area. Prevailing for four decades, the program was able to experiment with the earliest forms of emails, message boards, and context-based assessments. In addition, PLATO inspired the elearning system Blackboard, which marked a significant turning point in the history of online learning.

In 1966, Stanford Psychology Professors Patrick Suppes and Richard Atkinson used computers to teach math and reading at Palo Alto elementary schools. At the same time, renowned Media Psychologist Bernard Luskin partnered with Stanford engineers and professors to introduce teaching machines to schools (Keegan, 2020).

In 1968, the University of Alberta’s Department of Medicine in the US was the first to offer online courses. The university taught 17 classes to over 20,000 learners using the IBM 1500 network. This system helped teachers send course materials, organize documents, and assess tasks remotely. Arguably, this was the first notion of contemporary online learning in the history of elearning platforms (Keegan, 2020).

In 1969, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was created (Keegan, 2020). ARPANET was the technical origin of the internet, which was a broader-area network based on secure protocols. This network was also accessible to businesses and individuals. It was the prototype of the internet that we use today and recognized as the most climactic item of technology in the elearning timeline as it eradicated the problem of huge geographical distances.

1976: Internet-Based Courses

UK’s The Open University introduced its first online classes through CICERO. The university pioneered the offering of internet-based courses that could earn one credit. It also created the Cyclops whiteboard system, which enabled teleconferencing long before the time of Skype or Zoom (Keegan, 2020).

Coastline Community College, the world’s first entirely remote community college, was also founded in 1976. The college was home to several “mini campuses," but focuses on self-directed learning. Currently, the college also offers on-campus education (Keegan, 2020).

In 1979, Apple worked with Bell & Howell to set up the Apple Education Foundation. The foundation supplied computers to students and granted individuals who could design software for educational purposes (Tamm, 2019).

The 1980s: PC

Apple’s Macintosh 128K was the first iteration of a personal computer (Keegan, 2020). By this time, people already owned computers that could perform several functions. They began sharing information through the internet with other Mac users, surfing websites, developing their skills, and learning about various topics—all in the comfort of their own homes.

The 1990s: LMS

In the early 1990s, certain schools were established to provide online courses only. This instance made the most of the internet and brought education to people who do not have the means to physically attend school due to conflicts in schedule or geographical issues. Technology further helped schools lessen the expenses of distance learning, which, in turn, helped students save on expenses as well. Suffice to say, elearning brought education to a vaster audience at this time.

Learning Management Systems (LMS) started to gain popularity in 1995. Schools and universities used LMS to monitor student records, attendance, tests, grades, and issue notices and fee vouchers. American company Blackboard was the first to successfully use LMS in providing academic professionals, businesses, and government institutions with education, mobile, communication, commerce software, and other related services. In 2014, over 17,000 schools and organizations in 100 countries were using Blackboard’s software and services (Keegan, 2020).

As for when was e-learning first introduced, researcher and Educator Elliot Masie first mentioned “elearning" in a professional setting during the CBT Systems seminar in 1999. The term was coined to evoke how people use computers to learn, enroll in online degrees, and improve their education (Keegan, 2020).

The 2000s: Rise of the MOOC

Companies began using elearning LMS to train employees and advance their operations. New terms, such as “mobile learning," “gamification," and “social elearning," were also made up to describe the evolution of elearning.

In 2001, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) initiated a huge first move when it launched the OpenCourseWare project. Since then, the project has been offering exceptional educational resources for the public. It has 50 courses that included video lectures and assignments from prominent MIT professors (Keegan, 2020).

In 2010, a trio of Turkish professionals founded Udemy. The platform started out small and grew to one of the world’s biggest and most famous online course platforms today. On the website, an immense array of courses can be browsed and bought to obtain full lifetime access, video lectures, assessment questions, and certificates of completion. As of January 2020, about 50,000 teachers are providing online courses to over 50 million global students in over 65 languages (Keegan, 2020).

2010 was also the age of learning via social media. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn made learning more accessible in the forms of blogs, Twitter threads, short videos, and documentaries (Keegan, 2020).

In 2012, Stanford University’s Andrew NG and Daphne Koller founded Coursera, one of the world’s most extensive online learning platforms. Other successful platforms that emerged during this time were Udacity and edX. Thus, 2012 was labeled as the “Year of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)." (Tamm, 2019)

From 2020 up to the present, the traditional classroom-based setting has been facing a major blow when the COVID-19 crisis took place. As a result, parents and schools were compelled to consider elearning just to continue students’ education while they are in quarantine. Students have been attending online classes where their teachers use teaching software to teach from home. Clearly, the pandemic has shown the versatility and advantages of elearning (Keegan, 2020) and online schools and colleges.

How have advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) impacted modern eLearning platforms?

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), modern eLearning platforms have integrated AI to provide more personalized, adaptive, and efficient learning experiences. While AI has not been a focal point in the history of eLearning, it is now revolutionizing the way learners engage with content and how educators deliver material. Below are some ways AI is transforming eLearning:

Personalized learning paths: AI algorithms analyze learners' performance, preferences, and behaviors to create customized learning paths. This enables learners to focus on areas where they need improvement while skipping content they have already mastered.
Intelligent tutoring systems: AI-powered tutoring systems simulate one-on-one tutoring experiences. These systems provide instant feedback, answer questions, and offer additional explanations, helping learners to progress at their own pace without waiting for human intervention.
Automated grading and assessments: AI can evaluate assignments and tests, reducing the workload for educators and providing instant feedback to students. This is particularly useful in large online courses, such as MOOCs, where manual grading can be time-consuming.
Natural language processing (NLP): AI-driven NLP allows eLearning platforms to incorporate chatbots and virtual assistants that can engage learners in real-time conversations, answer questions, and guide them through the learning process.
Predictive analytics: AI analyzes learner data to predict future performance and identify students who may need additional support. This proactive approach can help educators intervene early and provide targeted assistance to improve learning outcomes.

What Are the Cost-Effective Benefits and Accessible Opportunities of Modern eLearning?

Modern eLearning platforms streamline educational costs by reducing the investments tied to physical infrastructure and traditional learning materials. With flexible scheduling and digital resources, students achieve access to diversified curriculum opportunities that align with various budget constraints. Institutions continue to refine their content delivery using feedback and analytics to ensure high-quality outcomes at competitive rates. This evolving landscape enables many to choose programs that balance quality with affordability, as evidenced by platforms that consistently rank among the cheapest online college.

How Does the Return on Investment of eLearning Compare to Traditional Education?

Evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of eLearning involves analyzing upfront costs, time commitment, and long-term career benefits. This assessment requires comparing the financial and practical implications of digital education with those of conventional academic programs. Prospective learners should consider factors such as tuition fees, flexibility in scheduling, opportunity costs, and post-completion job prospects. Detailed research and comparison with industry benchmarks—such as those illustrated by best paying degrees online—can help in making informed decisions that maximize both immediate value and future earning potential.

What Challenges Impact the Overall Quality of Modern eLearning?

Modern eLearning faces several challenges that can affect both content quality and learner outcomes. Regulatory inconsistencies across regions, rapid technological changes, and varying standards for accreditation can impede consistent quality assurance. Learners must critically assess not only the course content but also the underlying technology platforms for data security, user privacy, and system reliability. Additionally, disparities in internet accessibility and technological literacy may hinder the learning experience for certain demographics. These challenges underline the need for robust quality control frameworks and continuous platform improvement. For instance, some institutions now offer programs such as the best associate degree in 6 months online that strive to balance speed with quality assurance measures through standardized curricula and industry partnerships.

Are Online Credentials Equivalent to Traditional Degrees?

The advent of modern eLearning has prompted ongoing debate regarding the equivalence of online qualifications and traditional degrees. Industry experts increasingly emphasize the importance of rigorous accreditation, comprehensive curriculum design, and performance assessments to validate the academic and professional merit of digital education. Higher education institutions and professional bodies are evolving strategies to streamline quality assurance and enhance recognition of online credentials. Students and employers are advised to carefully review certification standards and accreditation practices when evaluating digital programs, including reputable offerings like PhD programs online. This shift is redefining the landscape of academic achievement and career readiness while ensuring that quality and legitimacy remain at the forefront of online education initiatives.

How Can eLearning Accelerate Career Advancement Through Skill Development?

eLearning platforms are increasingly designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and market-ready skills by offering targeted, career-oriented courses. These platforms enhance competency development through modular learning paths, interactive simulations, and real-time feedback mechanisms that help learners acquire and refine the skills sought by today’s employers. The integration of industry-specific certifications and micro-credentialing options further enables individuals to quickly adapt to evolving workforce demands, reducing both time and financial investment. For example, many programs provide foundational training that supports career entry and growth, with some options even including the cheapest online associate degree to serve as an accessible starting point for further specialization.

What Does the Future of eLearning Look Like?

Future developments in eLearning will likely harness advanced immersive technologies, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and blockchain to enhance both interactivity and security. As platforms evolve, personalized learning paths driven by refined analytics and adaptive course structures will further empower learners worldwide. Additionally, emerging accreditation models and accelerated formats are expected to gain traction, paving the way for innovative programs such as 6 month master's degree online accredited that blend flexibility with rigor.

How Can Learners Evaluate and Select High-Quality eLearning Platforms?

When determining the ideal eLearning platform, it is essential to assess accreditation standards, curriculum quality, and faculty expertise while also reviewing user testimonials and measurable learning outcomes. Consider platforms that integrate timely technological features and robust support services, ensuring content remains current with market trends. Exploring opportunities such as short courses that pay well can offer concise, career-oriented learning experiences that complement broader academic pursuits.

eLearning Today

Looking back to when e learning started, elearning mediums and approaches expanded along with the development of the computer and internet in the late 20th century. From merely providing information to students, elearning has evolved to provide access to a large amount of information to learners of all ages whenever and wherever they want. These learning opportunities were also deemed important by many businesses, especially in developing the skills of their staff.

The utilization of elearning both in the fields of academe and business manifests that the last decade was integral to the development of elearning today and brought more interesting facets to it. Elearning has fully prospered as online information and elearning opportunities became readily available to the public.

Perhaps, the most flawless way to utilize elearning has not yet been agreed upon as its best form has not been discovered yet as well. Nevertheless, all can agree that elearning is a cost-efficient way to teach and learn, and the best thing about it is that it is continuously evolving.

Key Insights

Origins of eLearning: The term "elearning" was first used in 1999, but its roots trace back to early instructional technologies like Isaac Pitman's correspondence courses in the 1840s and Sidney Pressey's "Automatic Teacher" in 1924.
Evolution of Technology: The development of computer-based education began in the 1960s with PLATO and continued with significant milestones like the introduction of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in the 1990s and the rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the 2000s.
Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of elearning, showcasing its flexibility and importance in maintaining educational continuity during global crises.
Broad Applications: Elearning is not limited to academic settings but extends to professional and personal development, with platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and edX offering diverse courses.
Ongoing Evolution: Elearning continues to evolve, incorporating new technologies and methodologies such as mobile learning, gamification, and social learning, enhancing accessibility and engagement.

FAQ

What is elearning and when was it first introduced? Elearning refers to the acquisition of knowledge and skills through digital channels like the internet and other electronic media. The term was first used in 1999 during a CBT Systems lecture.
How did elearning originate and evolve? Elearning originated from early instructional technologies like Isaac Pitman's correspondence courses and Sidney Pressey's "Automatic Teacher." It evolved through developments in computer-based education, the introduction of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in the 1990s, and the rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the 2000s.
What are some key milestones in the history of elearning? Key milestones include Isaac Pitman's stenography courses in the 1840s, Sidney Pressey's "Automatic Teacher" in 1924, the development of PLATO in the 1960s, the introduction of LMS in the 1990s, and the launch of platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and edX in the 2000s.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted elearning? The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of elearning as schools and businesses turned to online platforms to continue education and training amidst global lockdowns. This highlighted the flexibility and importance of elearning in maintaining educational continuity.
What are the benefits of elearning? Elearning offers flexibility, cost-efficiency, and accessibility, allowing learners to access a vast amount of information anytime and anywhere. It supports professional, entrepreneurial, and personal growth and success.
How is elearning used in professional settings? In professional settings, elearning is used for employee training and development, allowing companies to provide ongoing education and skill development to their staff efficiently and cost-effectively.
What are some modern approaches to elearning? Modern approaches to elearning include mobile learning, gamification, and social learning, which enhance engagement and accessibility by leveraging new technologies and interactive methodologies.
What is the future of elearning? The future of elearning is likely to involve continued evolution and innovation, incorporating emerging technologies and methodologies to further enhance learning experiences and outcomes. The best form of elearning is still being discovered, but its potential for cost-efficient and flexible education is widely recognized.