How did instructional television courses develop in the United States during the 1950s and 1970s?

Instructional television courses in the United States emerged as a significant tool for distance learning during the mid-20th century.

The 1950s: Early Development

The development of instructional television began in the 1950s, with early efforts pioneered at the University of Iowa. This period marked the formal introduction of the "telecourse"—a course of study conducted over television, often taken at home for academic credit. In 1952, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a critical step by allocating broadcast band space specifically for noncommercial television channels. While these channels were narrowly categorized as "educational" due to the political climate of the era, they provided the necessary infrastructure for early experiments in televised instruction and civic programming.123

The 1970s: Expansion and Integration

By the 1970s, the use of television for instruction had become widespread across the United States. Community colleges throughout the country had integrated these methods by creating courses specifically designed for broadcast on local television stations. This expansion was supported by the broader growth of public television, which had been bolstered by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 and the subsequent formation of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1969 to facilitate efficient programming distribution.14