HISTORY OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
In the modern world the use of distance learning allows quickly updating students’ knowledge, adapting changes of life situations and using a wide range of forms, methods and teaching aids. In this regard it is important to consider the urgent problems in the sphere of studying the world experience to implement distance education, as well as the elements and best achievements which can be used in the distance learning system of the Russian Federation. Distance learning methods have changed with the advent of new technologies and today it is possible to highlight the certain stages of its development, the starting point of which coincides with the following stages: industrialization of society (mid-19th century), informatization of society (1969) and globalization of society (1985).