早期的远程学习借助于邮政系统，现在使用的是计算机、卫星和互联网。 远程学习并不是一个崭新的概念，最早的远程学习可能是皮特曼组织于十九世纪末开设的速记课程。
The first structured distance learning or correspondence courses were probably the shorthand courses offered by the Pitman organization at the end of the 19th century.
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