Many people can't afford the traditional way of getting a higher education degree, which is learning by sitting in the classroom.
Technology can be an effective and cheaper way to help people learn.
Faced with increased enrollment demands and declining state revenues, the western governors see distance education via technology as a potential silver bullet. Reactions to the western initiative have ranged from fear and loathing to wild-eyed enthusiasm and anticipation. This controversy has spurred renewed interest in what are called cost-benefit studies. Specifically, they want to collect data and create case studies of institutions that have implemented mediated instruction or distance education. On its face, this appears to be an attractive idea.