Ed3 Weekly Issue #128: Connecting Connections

Hello Ed3 Community,

The arguments supporting blockchain in education tend to center around the following:

1. Transparency for Student Records
2. Decentralized Learning and Credentialing
3. Streamlining Administrative Processes

But what if we dig a little deeper? How does blockchain offer an opportunity for more wholesale changes in our systems of teaching and learning?

This week’s deep dive does just that. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson proposes that blockchain can help address the specific flaws that we currently encounter in our school system.

• Our system is heavily centralized with universities, government bodies, and accreditation agencies as the gatekeepers of verification. Blockchain can promote more equitable global cooperation.
• Current educational systems often limit access to quality education based on socioeconomic status, geographic location, or institutional prestige. Blockchain can allow individuals from any background to earn, store, and share credentials.
• Educational institutions and accreditation bodies can be opaque and subject to bureaucratic inefficiencies or corruption. Blockchain introduces transparency in how educational records are managed and how decisions are made regarding academic policies and institutional operations.

Will this manifest in our education systems and is this how a blockchain future will play out? Only time will tell.

The articles for this week offer some insights into what this could look like with examples from across the globe of how blockchain is currently being used in our schools.

Learn about how a company is revolutionizing university-level blockchain education , redefining meme coins and blockchain learning in Africa , and empowering youth through blockchain and NFT education in the Philippines .

Enjoy the articles for this week, see the links and summaries of the resources below.

?? Blockchain News

EasyA Proudly Announces the Launch of its Blockchain Education-Focused EasyA x Polkadot University

?? EasyA, the premier blockchain education platform, is excited to unveil its EasyA x Polkadot University. Read

?? Crypto News

Afro Token: Redefining Meme Coins and Blockchain Education in Africa

?? Mitroplus Labs Launches Afro Token to Promote Blockchain Awareness. Read

?? NFT News

Philippine agency empowers youth with blockchain and NFT education

?? The Philippines’ DOST-ASTI introduced blockchain, NFTs and crypto to youth, focusing on real-world applications and fostering innovation for the future. Read

?? Weekly Deep Dive

Charles Hoskinson's Vision: The Future of Education, Politics, and Crypto

This article makes a passionate argument for implementing blockchain in society to upend one of the most enduring institutions of our society: education. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson outlines his own experience as a homeschooled child to explain that our traditional education system stifles creativity and uses an outdated curriculum.

He highlights the need for education reform, economic equality, and blockchain’s role in restoring trust and transparency. He calls for collaboration among blockchain platforms and envisions blockchain as a way to promote decentralized governance, bridging political and economic divides to create a more inclusive future. Read

Thank you for stopping by for another issue of my newsletter on emerging technology in education. You can join over 1000 others across LinkedIn and SubStack . You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify here , with a supplemental episode on each issue. Learn more about me by visiting my website .