And they can all access them at the same time, unlike the copies of these books that the professor has put on reserve at the library. The tedious part of managing a course can be automated and improved. The student can get a response on exams which provides links to the appropriate materials. Grades can be calculated automatically. This leaves more time for commenting on student papers, reading essay answers more carefully, or for any of the more important aspects of teaching.
Students can fit more of their coursework into convenient times.
The worker with rotating shifts and the salesperson who has to travel can take online courses. No classrooms are necessary. Instructors will work out of their homes, so they don't even have to be provided with offices. All of these factors reduce the start-up costs and the risks. The production of education can be broken down into sub-assemblies.