One of the candidates still on my list is SocialLearn, even though it is being developed within an institution (Open University) and is neither open source or freely available. It does, however, contain many of the features that might make a good “kernel.” For example, it uses a modular design built around open APIs, which permits considerable flexibility and easy personalization for learners.

Recently Martin Weller of OU gave a demo of SocialLearn set within the broader context of changes in higher education. The presentation was arranged and moderated by George Siemens using Elluminate. This is great stuff. Definitely worthwhile.

Graham Attwell has an interesting comment on the business models evident in SocialLearn.

George Siemens’ comments and questions to Martin are excellent and provide a poignant reminder that change comes with a dear cost for those institutions least capable or prepared to adapt. My own sense is that the most emergent changes are not likely to start in institutions (e.g., Open University). Rather they will start among the most difficult to reach populations where a quality education is better than no education, where financial resources are severely constrained, and where teaching talent may be scattered and not in sufficient supply. See, for example, the work of Derek Keats and the African Virtual Open Initiatives and Resources (AVOIR).

If I’m right in this guess about incubation, then the diffusion into existing higher education may be more evolutionary than revolutionary. I sincerely hope this is the case.

These truly are exciting times.

My basic argument is that new tools encourage this overlap between areas we used to keep distinct, for instance home and work,personal and professional, individual and institution. A lot of people see this as a ‘bad thing’, but I think it has enormous potential also.

Martin and others at the Open University are right out there working the edges of the educational future, and his screencast nicely illustrates some of the issues with which they’re grappling. Highly recommended.

Below is the comment that I left on Martin’s post:

You folks at OU are certainly into some impressive things. And the direction represented by the sweet spot seems right on target. My only concern is whether it can be accomplished within an existing institution. Maybe it can be done at OU. It’s well worth trying. Do you have a sense of how hitting the sweet spot would work for other institutions? Is it a model with enough general persuasiveness and appeal that it could form the basis of institutional change in higher education? Or does hitting the sweet spot require a entrepreneurial foundation outside of existing educational institutions?