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.
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. 21. The online education system of claim 13 wherein the curriculum unit defines a project associated with of the event.