More on the new idea of distance (now online) learning
In the light of the gubernatorial and regental excitement about online education, this blog earlier noted distance learning by TV as early as the 1950s. But it appears that in the 1920s, there were college credit courses on radio:
…In 1915, what would become AMRAD (The American Radio and Research Corporation) opened for business from Medford Hillside, about four miles from Boston… In 1917, AMRAD received a license for station 1XE and experimental broadcasts began on a fairly regular basis that same year… It was in 1918 that Eunice Randall was hired by AMRAD, as their first woman draftsman; later, she would serve as an engineer and announcer for 1XE… According to several sources, by May of 1921, 1XE had begun to do daily broadcasts. The programming was gradually getting more professional — live concerts, and several famous guest speakers. The speakers were often a result of the Tufts College connection—1XE quickly made use of some of Tufts’ better-known professors. At a time when few people could afford college, the opportunity to hear highly respected professors giving a lecture was very well received… In early February of 1922, 1XE officially became WGI… WGI had a number of firsts in greater Boston, including being the first station to offer college courses by radio—throughout 1922, a series of lectures by Tufts faculty was given twice a week…
Source of text and photo: http://www.bostonradio.org/essays/wgi