13. An online education system accessible by a plurality of users comprising: a curriculum unit that defines at least one executable, social network-based learning object and that defines an attribute and a rule associated with the attribute that is capable of reacting dynamically to inputs adapted to the rule for controlling the attribute and differently to different inputs and that specifies a manner of use in which the at least one executable, social network-based learning object can be executed; wherein the instruction set is capable of being retrieved independently from the executable, social network-based learning object; and an electronic runtime engine configured to read the curriculum unit and to alter the attribute of the at least one executable, social network-based learning object associated with any rules that are triggered by the occurrence of the at least one event.
17. The online education system of claim 13 , wherein an action by the at least one executable, social network-based learning object associated with a first user causes the events to occur, whereby the electronic runtime engine alters an attribute of a second executable, social network-based learning objects associated with a second user, wherein the attribute of the second executable, social network-based learning object is associated with the rule triggering the first event.