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Distance education has afforded generations of students the opportunity pursue their educational goals outside of the traditional school system. It has allowed countless students the ability to further their education, while allowing them to maintain their obligations to their families and employers. While distance education is not for everyone, it has certainly stood the test of time. The following is a brief timeline of events related to distance education.

? 1840 – Isaac Pitman begins teaching shorthand by correspondence in the UK.
? 1858 – The University of London creates its External Program.
? 1883 – New York State authorizes the Chautauqua Institute to award degrees earned via correspondence.
? 1891 – The Colliery Engineer School of Mines renames itself International Correspondence Schools.
? 1892 – The University of Chicago starts administering the first university courses by mail.
? 1906 – The Calvert School of Baltimore becomes the first primary school in the United States to offer correspondence courses.
? 1916 – The National University Continuing Education Association is created in the United States.
? 1921 – Pennsylvania State College begins broadcasting courses on the radio.
? 1933 – The University of Iowa begins broadcasting courses on television.
? 1950 – The Ford Foundation begins offering grants to create and develop educational programs for television broadcasting.
? 1967 – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is created.
? 1970 – Walden University is established.
? 1974 – California State University offers a Masters degree via correspondence.
? 1982 – The National University Teleconferencing Network is established.
? 1984 – The personal computer is named “man of the year” by Time Magazine.

With the advent of the personal computer and the development of the internet, distance education has evolved into an extremely important element of modern education. Most every university in North America offers courses online, while an entire cottage industry has formed around the concept of online education. There are countless online courses available to members of the general public. The wonderful thing about online education is that there are no borders, and prospective students worldwide now have access to the same opportunities. Online learning has the ability to make the world a better place. In some ways, it already has.

Land banking is a relatively new investment concept that allows smaller investors to own a piece of valuable land.

How does land banking work?

When large parcels of land are put up for sale, they are usually far too expensive for a single small investor. Land that?s in a good place for residential or business development is usually either bought by a land investment company or by a property developer. The owner then ?banks? or holds onto the land until they are ready to sell it or develop it. During this time, they can parcel the land up into smaller, much more affordable section and sell these sections to private investors. Each investor holds the freehold to their land, and can sell at any time, although the best profits are usually realised when planning permission is granted for the site.

How much does it cost?

The cost of the land to small investors will depend upon the type of land, the potential for development and the size of the land. For as little as ?5,000, investors can buy a good-sized piece of land in a prestigious location. You can, of course, choose to spend much more, and the land parcels are often graduated in size to accommodate a range of investors.

Is it complicated to buy?

Land is easier to buy than property. It is still a legal contract, though, so it?s worth getting it checked by your solicitor. The straightforward nature of the purchase means that it can often be completed within 28 days.

Can I sell it?

In most, if not all cases, when you buy the land, you also acquire the freehold. This means that you can sell the land on at any time. Most people hold on to their property for between 2-8 years, to realise profits from the development of the site, but you can sell whenever you want or need to.

Where do I start?

If you?re interested in land investment, then talk to a land agent. They will have a variety of sites on their books and have the experience and expertise to guide and advise you throughout the process.