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- Date change rule:
- Every August 31
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World Distance Learning Day recognizes the power of flexible education every August 31. This day celebrates the innovative ways technology and pedagogy combine to deliver learning opportunities globally. Explore new courses, acknowledge educators, and share your own remote learning journey.
Want to sponsor World Distance Learning Day? Learn how
Expected World Distance Learning Day Deals
As World Distance Learning Day approaches, expect many online learning platforms and educational technology providers to offer special promotions and discounts. In past years, companies like Coursera and edX have provided reduced prices on popular courses and certifications, while Udemy often features site-wide sales. Look for free trial extensions from services like LinkedIn Learning and special bundles from educational content creators. Textbook retailers and software companies catering to students may also run back-to-school style promotions. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 31 approaches.
Platform Guide for World Distance Learning Day
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #WorldDistanceLearningDay. Share insights on the future of remote education or highlight successful online learning programs.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #WorldDistanceLearningDay. Tweet about your favorite online course, share tips for remote students, or discuss trends in educational technology.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #WorldDistanceLearningDay. Post about local distance learning initiatives, student success stories, or resources for online learners.
World Distance Learning Day Hero
Charles A. Wedemeyer
History of World Distance Learning Day
Learning facilities haven’t always been a few clicks away. Back in 1728, Caleb Phillips was advertising his teachings on a new method of shorthand in the Boston Gazette, with the lessons to be delivered via mail on a weekly basis. Sir Isaac Pitman took the idea one step further in England in the 1840s. He was also teaching shorthand via mail, but his students would send him a postcard containing their own efforts, which he would correct and send back to them. Pitman’s course swelled in popularity and within a few years, the Phonographic Correspondence Society was established to formalize the courses on offer. This society led to colleges and by 1873 the first correspondence school to operate in the U.S was founded.
Universities began offering distance learning options and the idea was driven forwards by the Open University in the 1960s. They offered a respectable alternative to traditional learning methods and have been at the forefront of developing new technologies and teaching methods ever since their inception.
The internet revolutionized distance learning, making it easier, faster, and cheaper for students to learn. The first completely online course arrived in 1984 and both the resources available online and the number of students taking part have developed at a rapid pace ever since. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to widespread school closures, which in turn meant that more students than ever turned to distance learning.
World Distance Learning Day was established to raise awareness of the learning resources and options available to students and to celebrate how far the concept of distance education has advanced over the years.
World Distance Learning Day timeline
Caleb Phillips advertises a shorthand course in the Boston Gazette.
The Open University, an establishment credited with contributing greatly to distance learning methods, is founded.
The University of Toronto launches the first-ever completely online course.
The COVID-19 pandemic means that many schools throughout the world were forced to close their doors and transition to online classes, leading to a huge rise in the number of students practicing distance learning.
How Businesses Can Celebrate World Distance Learning Day
Local businesses can celebrate World Distance Learning Day by offering professional development workshops online or providing discounts to students enrolled in remote programs. Companies with remote teams can host virtual team-building events or offer stipends for online courses to upskill employees. Educational institutions can showcase their online offerings, host virtual open houses, or partner with local businesses to provide internship opportunities for distance learners.
World Distance Learning Day - Survey Results
World Distance Learning Day FAQs
When is World Distance Learning Day?
World Distance Learning Day 2026 falls on Monday, August 31, providing a perfect start to the week to reflect on the impact of remote education.
How many students are enrolled in distance learning?
Millions of students worldwide are engaged in distance learning, with numbers significantly increasing in recent years due to technological advancements and global events. In the U.S. alone, over 6 million students were enrolled in at least one distance education course prior to 2020.
What are the benefits of distance learning?
Distance learning offers numerous benefits, including increased flexibility, allowing students to learn at their own pace and schedule. It also often provides greater accessibility, breaking down geographical barriers and making education available to a broader audience, including working professionals and those in remote areas.
What is the history of distance learning?
The concept of distance learning dates back to the 18th century with correspondence courses. Early forms involved sending educational materials via postal mail, evolving through radio and television instruction. The advent of the internet in the late 20th century revolutionized the field, leading to modern online learning platforms.
World Distance Learning Day Activities
Sign up for a course
Learn to code via Codecademy, learn a language via Duolingo, or research other courses that align with your interests and, most important of all, start learning!
Collaborate with others on a peer-to-peer learning platform
You are capable of a lot more when you are surrounded by other people who you can learn from and who you can share your expertise with. Try joining a peer-to-peer learning community like Brainly, which helps people around the world go from questioning to understanding and acts as a homework help resource for students. For every question that’s asked, someone somewhere has an answer. They do not have to be an expert – they just need to know a little more than you do about that specific area or topic. This is what’s really at the heart of peer-to-peer learning – learning from other people and sharing knowledge freely with that common goal in mind.
Post about your experience
Use this day to post online about your distance learning experience. Whether it is to recommend a useful tool for others, or to discuss a course that you completed, sharing your experience with others may inspire more people to take up some distance learning.
5 Great Distance Learning Tools
Brainly
Brainly is home to the world’s largest online learning community. It is essentially a homework help platform that connects students to subject matter experts. If you’re stuck on a particular element of your studies, then this is the place to be.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a highly rated language learning website and app. Do you want to speak a second language? This is the place to go.
Codecademy
Codecademy is where millions have learned to code. It’s an interactive online platform that offers free classes in 12 different programming languages. Coding is a valuable, in-demand skill and this is the place to learn.
Open Culture
Open Culture is a website packed full of useful learning resources. These include online courses, audiobooks, ebooks, and movies. It’s worth having a poke around.
LinkedIn Learning
Formerly known as Lynda, LinkedIn Learning offers video courses taught by industry experts. You can get a 30-day free trial and then maybe try and persuade your boss to sign up for the subscription.
Why We Love World Distance Learning Day
It’s flexible
Distance learning often means that you can create and stick to your own learning schedule. This means you can fit your learning needs around your other needs, which in turn helps create a rewarding learning experience.
It’s rich in resources
The internet has changed what is possible with distance learning. A few searches and you will realize that you’re spoilt for choice with thousands of different websites and apps offering courses, lessons, and learning tools.
It’s environmentally friendly
Distance learning not only cuts back on paper and electricity use, but also on carbon emissions commuting to a physical classroom. Distance learning classes use 90% less energy and have 85% fewer carbon emissions than traditional, face-to-face classes.
Social Media Tips for World Distance Learning Day
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