ABSTRACT
Open knowledge systems on higher education is framed by a description of the multiple external realities that will predictably confront post-secondary educators with operational imperatives between now and 2020, since these externalities will, it is argued, necessitate a university's adoption of open knowledge policies and practices in order to preserve itself and its essential functions. The university is one of civilization's truly venerable social technologies; older by far than democracy. Most corporate e-learning systems are supported by on-call mentors or visiting coaches to answer trainee questions not covered by the programmed instructional materials. Outsourcing is driven by timeless principles of marketplace economics, made practicable by new technology. Fortunately for higher education, the 1990s produced not just one, but two new social technologies: outsourcing and open sourcing. "Communities of practice" have typically been small and informal. But today, the world's largest community of practice is the collaborative on-line network at sourceforge.
