My interest in learning over networks dates back to 1989. In 1989 there was no commercial Internet. It was hard to get people interested in learning over networks or to even to understand what learning over networks meant or could mean. Fortunately, in 1992 I was joined at the Sloan Foundation by an extremely able program director, Frank Mayadas. Then we were able to get a real program started.
I am glad that I have been involved in this field for many years, because if I had to build up a picture of Internet learning now, from what is available to be read in the newspapers or news magazines, I would be thoroughly confused. I would not be able to find out what was really meant by Internet education. I would not know whether this thing, whatever it might be, actually provides real learning or not. I certainly would not know whether this thing, whatever it is, is significant for the present day providers of higher education; today’s universities, four-year schools and community colleges.