historical topics

The history of distance learning can be traced back to the 1890’s. Distance education was then known as correspondence course. The University of Wisconsin was the pioneer in this venture supported by other universities. This was the era when there was no concept of “media”. There was no television, and the internet was too distant a dream. Sending paper through regular mail was the only “medium” of instruction. Correspondence courses ruled the roost until the time television came to life. Television was perceived to be an excellent medium for spreading education. Even today, this has remained a dream.

Post World War II

World war II brought major changes to the lives and styles of citizens. The history of distance learning got a shot in the arm when extension courses became popular. While this idea had been popular in the UK for over 50 years, the USA did not discover it until the early 50’s. American universities borrowed the concept from the universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the UK. This included developing an off-campus system for university programs.

The mid 60’s also saw the launch of what was then the largest classroom for physicians. This was set up through telephone networks in Wisconsin. In the late 60’s, a Carnegie funded program termed AIM, Articulated Instructional Media, was developed. The early 70’s were witness to many telecourses developed by various universities. Telecourses, as the name suggests, used to be delivered through television with the program being beamed into the households where the students would take the courses. The assignments were sent by regular mail, and returned by the same mode. It was a time-consuming process.

Arrival of Cable TV

Cable TV changed the way Americans lived. The year 1987 saw the launch of an education channel called M/EU. This was an abbreviated form of Mind Extension University. Hendricks brought in the Discovery Channel as a mode of spreading education through entertainment. The history of distance learning is littered with experiments done by enthusiasts and educationist of various hues. The distance learning world changed dramatically with the entry of the internet.

The internet is responsible for changing the way people perceived life, it brought in the element of interaction for the first time in the history of distance learning. Earlier attempts in distance education were limited to one-way monologues. The internet changed this to a dialogue between two or more people simultaneously. Earlier versions of the internet were restricted to text only message exchanges. These modes are slowly being replaced with hi definition and hi resolution video streams. The internet, it seems, was made for distance learning.

Among the digital satellite TV services providers available today. DirecTV is the acknowledged leader in the United States. The technology it uses allows it to broadcast information to relatively small satellite mini-dishes (18″ in diameter).

Direct TV boasts of close to 400 channels that the subscriber may view depending on the subscription he avails of:

? The Family package, offered at a subscription rate of US$29.99 per month includes access local channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS, as well as popular Standard Definition channels like the Disney Channel, HGTV, Hallmark Channel, C-SPAN, Bloomberg, RFDTV, fitTV, Home Shopping Network, National Geographic, NickNite, Sprout, Food Network, The Science Channel, among others.

Want access to High Definition channels like National Geographic HD, The Science Channel HD, Food Network HD, The Weather Channel HD, and HGTV HD? Put some extra on your budget for just the US$ 9.99 per month.

? The Choice package, offered at a subscription rate of US$ 49.99 per month includes access to all local channels and Standard Definition channels of the Family package plus other Standard Definition channels like CNN, The Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, ESPN 1 and 2, ESPNews, MSNBC, TNT Channel, BBC America, and others.

For an additional US$ 9.99 per month, you can have access to the High Definition Channels of the Family Package plus access to additional HD channels such as A&E HD, Animal Planet HD, Big Ten Network HD, Bravo HD, Cartoon Network HD, Discovery Channel HD, ESPN HD, ESPN 2 HD, FX HD, HD Theater, The History Channel HD, NFL Network HD, SciFi HD, TBS HD, TLC HD, TNT HD, USA HD.

? The Choice XTRA package, offered at a subscription rate of US$ 54.99 per month includes access to all local and Standard Definition Channels of the Choice package plus other Standard Definition Channels like Biography, PBS Kids, E!, History International Channel, Golf Channel, Military Channel, TV Land, TCM Channel, among others.

If you want all access to all the HD Channels of the Choice package plus additional HD Channels like CNBC HD, CNN HD, Fox Business HD, Fuel HD, Golf Channel HD, Speed HD, and Versus HD, all you need to do is pay an extra $9.99 per month. You’ll definitely enjoy your subscription.

There are a few more packages that Direct TV offers to potential subscribers that offer even more local, standard definition, and high definition Direct TV channels that will make staying at home an enjoyable experience. All these packages include the satellite TV dish, and a number of television set-top boxes to make subscribing a cash-free and worry-free task. Installation charges (conditions apply) are also part of the various packages.

Aside from the channels packages it offers, Direct TV also provides pay-per-view services that subscribers can avail of if they wish to watch exclusive live sports and music feeds. There are also similar services like Video on Demand, wherein a subscriber can watch his or her favorite movies at the convenience of his or her home and time that suits his or her preferred schedule. Combined with the hundreds of Direct TV channels currently in its lineup, it is no wonder then that Direct TV has emerged as the clear leader in the TV entertainment industry.

If you were one of those kids at school who could not wait for history class, then chances are that you are a regular viewer of the History Channel that can be seen on satellite or cable television.

This television network is a history buff’s dream. If you enjoyed turning the pages of the thick story laden books at school and you were the one who raised your hand because you always had the answer, then you probably love the History Channel. If you have never watched this network, then you do not know what you are missing.

The History Channel has been on satellite and cable television for quite a few years now and it has a great following of viewers. No matter your historical interests are, the History Channel airs programs that everyone will enjoy at one time or another. The subjects that are aired are in such a broad range that there is defiantly something that will interest any viewer.

If you love the history of politics, then you can watch programs that discuss everything from the ancient pharaohs of Egypt and their line of descending rulers to the intrigue that still surrounds the assignation of John F. Kennedy. You can learn facts about things that you never knew and be assured that these shows are about as accurate as you can get.

Whenever there are new facts uncovered about any particular subject dealing with history of any kind, you can be certain that eventually The History Channel will develop a program that discusses it.

For example, new discoveries are made about dinosaurs or about ancient civilizations all the time through archeology. Any new discoveries are fresh fodder for new and never before seen programming.

People who like to learn about things like UFO’s, love the History Channel. Any time there is a batch of supposed new sightings, there is likely to be a new program.

This channel does not endorse any particular beliefs about one thing or another. They only report the facts of a situation as they are. It is left up to you to determine what you do or do not believe about something.

Unlike other television networks, the History Channel is defiantly one where a person can go to broaden their knowledge. Watching this channel is just like going back to school, the only thing is, you enjoy every minute of it. History may not always repeat its self in the literal sense, but it can be seen in almost life like representations on the History Channel.