Back to Basics: Issue #18 of web3🤝education
Hello educator and web3 frens,
There is an undeniable curiosity that educators possess as part of their professions. We are regularly tasked with learning new things, processing new information, and applying new ideas. Being an educator in the third millennium requires us to be life-long learners.
That truth is more evident as the internet has evolved with blockchain, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies. Are teachers embracing these changes, or running away because of irrational fears being peddled by the media?
My feeling is that there is a cautious curiosity among educators about this topic. And that is OK. It is much too early for there to be an "all in" approach. The caveat is that full dismissal of these changes will be to the detriment of the young people we are employed to support.
It is hard to find the signal in the noise. There is a lot of noise out there. Decentralized governments, a bitcoin economy, the destruction of big banks! What does this have to do with how I am going to teach math to my 7th graders?
Part of my mission is to creatively share knowledge about the evolution of the internet and to onboard educators to engage with these new tools. That is why I am titling this issue "Back to Basics."
I start with two podcasts that I think will be helpful for any educator curious about taking their first steps into exploring how the internet is evolving. Both are accessible to anyone at any stage of learning about these topics. When you are ready, start digging through the final article. It is a long read, but full of very interesting information. It is the deepest of deep dives on NFTs.
Here is a summary of the resources for this week:
👼 A podcast interview with one of my favorite NFT founders, Allyson Downey from Meta Angels
🌐 EdSurge hosted a live podcast recording from ISTE 22 about the metaverse and education (yours truly makes an appearance in the Q&A section)
🤓 Take a nerdy deep dive into NFTs with this Medium article
Great introduction to "What is an NFT and what can you access with it?" — podcasts.apple.com
The million-dollar question, what is an NFT? It can be a big bite to chew and digest. This podcast with the founder of an NFT project is a great way to investigate this question.
By telling her story about what sparked her interest in NFTs you can gain a window into what this innovative technology is all about. This honest, non-jargongated talk is perfect for the beginning NFT explorer.
Live from ISTE Education and the Metaverse — www.edsurge.com
Edsurge has stayed on the cutting edge of sharing innovations in technology and education. Previous newsletters have featured articles on the intersection of the metaverse, web3, NFTs, and education.
This is a link to a podcast that was recorded live at the ISTE 22 conference in New Orleans. There are two guests in the interview: Greg Heiberger, associate dean of academics and student success at South Dakota State University, and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University. Kathy is also one of the co-authors of a groundbreaking report by the Brookings Institute on the metaverse and education.
As an extra special bonus, I make an appearance during the Q&A session. Take a listen to hear their response. My question is about when will we as educators be given more research on how learning can be improved by technology related to the metaverse.
The Deepest of Dives "Why NFTs are a generational innovation" — medium.com
If you are ready to take your learning to another level here is a very detailed essay about NFTs. There is a lot in this piece. I am sharing it because it covers a lot of information that the curious educator may have about NFTs.
So if you have an afternoon left in your summer vacation for some good reading I recommend this article. If not, here is a nice tidbit that is some valuable food for thought.
"Our aim is to solve the big catch-22 — you can’t really understand NFTs on a visceral level until you’ve truly owned some and interacted with them, but you probably won’t do that until you truly understand them."
Thank you for stopping by for another issue of my web3🤝education newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter here or if you’re on LinkedIn go check out a version of this newsletter on my LinkedIn page and give me a follow.
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