{"id":10661,"date":"2026-04-21T19:02:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/?p=10661"},"modified":"2026-04-23T18:01:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T18:01:44","slug":"through-distance-learning-a-father-and-son-forge-a-boilermaker-bond-that-transcends-time-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/through-distance-learning-a-father-and-son-forge-a-boilermaker-bond-that-transcends-time-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Through distance learning, a father and son forge a Boilermaker bond that transcends time, technology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Purdue University is known for standing at the forefront of innovation, and its history of distance learning is no exception. Long before high-speed internet enabled the creation of over 150 online degrees and certificates<\/a>, Purdue used whatever technology was available to make a high-quality education accessible. In the 1920s, that meant broadcasting engineering courses over WBAA radio. Later in the 20th century, radio broadcasts were replaced with recorded lectures sent to students on VHS tape. And now, VHS tapes have been replaced with internet-enabled platforms like Brightspace, where information travels near the speed of light and can be accessed anytime, anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Father-son-duo Wade and Alex Johnson got a front row seat to Purdue\u2019s storied history of distance learning \u2014 albeit almost 30 years apart. Wade Johnson graduated with his Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Purdue in 1999 without ever setting foot on campus. His son, Alex Johnson, graduated with his Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Purdue in 2025, also without ever setting foot on campus. They both say their degrees \u2014 which were earned via distance learning and online learning, respectively \u2014 feel identical in quality and rigor, even though the way they earned them was different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wade Johnson completed his Purdue courses via VHS tapes, which were shipped from Purdue to remote students through a partnership Purdue had with General Motors (GM), Wade\u2019s employer at the time (he has since retired). He did the same homework as students on campus, and he took the same exams, too, though he took them many miles away from campus using a proctor. Despite the distance, he always felt like a Boilermaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always felt a part of the [Purdue] community,\u201d Wade said. \u201cI was taking the same tests as the other students and doing the same assignments. And, in the VHS, sometimes I could even see some of the students as they walked up and turned in their homework. It felt like, in a way, I knew them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That\u2019s what drew me to Purdue. I knew they weren\u2019t going to make it easy on me. I didn\u2019t want a degree that was watered down. I wanted to achieve the same standard as everyone else.<\/p>\n\n <\/blockquote>\n

Wade Johnson<\/p>\n

MS in Interdisciplinary Engineering, 1999<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Following in his dad\u2019s footsteps, Alex wanted a graduate degree that would challenge him. He chose Purdue because the Purdue name was synonymous with engineering excellence, and he knew that getting a degree there wouldn\u2019t be easy. Even though he was studying online and accessing his courses via Brightspace, Purdue\u2019s online learning platform, the quality and rigor were identical to an on-campus engineering program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt really felt like everything was the same as if I was on campus,\u201d Alex said. \u201cI saw other students in the class in the recording of the lecture. I\u2019d be able to see the professor and whatever PowerPoint was being covered that day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to feel like I was getting a different education than any other Purdue student,\u201d Alex continued. \u201cBut we [online students] were held to the same standard, and the education was exactly the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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