Hello Educators & Friends,
The world of web3 is evolving rapidly. So far, we’ve introduced specific topics like NFTs, DAOs, XR, and tokenomics because understanding the utility will enable you to take action fast. Luckily, the concept of blockchain, where all of this utility lives, is becoming easier to understand. And understanding blockchain will help you better utilize and leverage it for education. This newsletter issue is an introduction to blockchain, layers 1 & 2.
Blockchain is a digitally distributed, decentralized, public network of transactions. Here are my own key takeaways:
- public blockchains allow individuals to own stuff & data
- there are many different blockchains & each of them is optimized for different activities
- blockchains have evolved into more efficient derivatives
- not all blockchains are permissionless & decentralized, which can actually be good for use cases that require security (like education)
- education can leverage blockchain for academic identity ownership, unbundling learning, incentivizing outcomes, equity & access, & probably way more than we can imagine.
One thing I struggle with in web3 is access. For schools and students who don’t yet have access to the internet and web1, how will they keep up with web3? Cost is inhibiting but the actual infrastructure for building network towers is quite difficult. A few months ago, I discovered a project trying to solve the problem at the root.
The Helium 5G network, in short, is incentivizing people to create decentralized public hotspots on blockchain, in their homes, so that neighbors can gain access to the internet.
So imagine if the most resourced among us could share our internet and earn crypto to do so? I’m feeling really optimistic because blockchain allows people to reimagine how the world could work. If this solution doesn’t work, there will be many more.
Happy reimagining.
Yours,
Vriti & k20 Educators
