這個服務是由麻省理工學院開放式課程提供，由猶他州立大學教育科技系的「開放持續學習機會研究群」所管理。世界各地的獨立學員可以互相連繫、協同合作、組織學習小組，及就利用麻省理工「開放式課程網頁」教材資源於他們正規或非正規教育學習時得到支援。

OLS is a research project that is focused on building "social software" that enables informal learning communities to form around existing open educational content. The fundamental premise of OLS is that full educational opportunity requires a user to have the social access to other people who can answer questions and provide support. Since the sponsors of free and open Web-based materials cannot typically provide this access, the social support must come from other users.
Therefore, OLS:

• Operates independently of MIT OCW
• Requires users to register and login to participate
• Is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting program
• Does not provide formal access to MIT or Utah State University faculty

「開放式學習支援網」是由The William and Flora Hewlett 基金會贊助提供。