* Early Experiments with Correspondence Courses: Long before the internet, correspondence courses used mail to deliver educational materials. While not "online," these laid the groundwork for distance learning.
* Development of the Internet and related technologies: The creation and expansion of the internet, along with technologies like email, bulletin board systems (BBSs), and later the World Wide Web, were crucial for enabling online education.
* Early pioneers in online learning platforms and institutions: Many institutions and individuals experimented with using these technologies for teaching. It's difficult to pinpoint one single "inventor" as various universities and companies began offering online courses independently. The development of platforms like Blackboard and Moodle played a significant role in making online education more accessible and user-friendly.
In short, online education is a product of technological advancements and the collaborative efforts of numerous individuals and organizations across several decades. Attributing its invention to a single person is inaccurate.