Ed3 Weekly Issue #113: Digital Love
Integrating AI, blockchain, and AR in creating engaging and meaningful educational experiences
Hello Ed3 Community, welcome back to Ed3 Weekly!
The best part about doing this weekly newsletter is I am always discovering new happenings in the world of web3 and education that would otherwise go unnoticed.
This was the primary reason for starting this newsletter: to keep myself accountable for staying updated on the latest news, events, and discoveries in this new and exciting space.
I am excited to share the resources for this week. As a whole, they embody the diverse and interesting applications we are seeing in AR, blockchain, and AI. Hence the title of this issue is “digital love.”
I’ve been finding myself in a little bit of a love/hate relationship with tech lately. The AI hype machine is pumping so strongly that my inner Luddite wants to come out. I have been eager just to bury all tech applications and go out into the forest to learn with sticks and dirt.
But my better sense prevails.
I realize that tech or no tech, it’s the pedagogy that is important. This was truly unlocked by one of the pieces in this week’s newsletter, “How Artificial Intelligence Can Catch Up With Pedagogy” by Leon Furze.
He is one of my favorite thought leaders in the AI and education space. He is thoughtful, insightful, and a breath of fresh contrarian air in the “give me more!!!” AI landscape.
His writing and LinkedIn posts have helped me stay grounded and avoid selling all my possessions to live in fantasy edu-land with unicorn teachers. (It does sound tempting sometimes though)
There are many exciting developments happening, and I'm honored to share some digital love this week.
There are students exploring the natural world using augmented reality at the American Museum of Natural History, Web3 Youth Summits, and a shift of digital ownership back to users
For all the love being showered on AI as being the ultimate “fix” for education, I appreciate Furze’s emphasis on the skills and innovation of our human educators, “A qualified human educator understands how to read a room and respond to individual students’ needs, to go away after a lesson and reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Artificial intelligence cannot do this.”
So let’s give some digital love and keep ourselves rooted to a solid grounding in effective human-centered pedagogy.
📰 Featured Articles:
Check out the resources linked below to delve deeper into the topics covered in this issue. Each resource is categorized by crypto, blockchain, and AI.
🌐 Metaverse News
Exploring Biodiversity Through Augmented Reality
At EarthFest, students from TC's Digital Futures Institute and CMLTD program created an augmented reality experience at the American Museum of Natural History to educate visitors about marine ecosystems and the carbon cycle, highlighting the potential of AR in enhancing public education on conservation.
🛜 Web3 News
Hooked Protocol and GEMS Education to Forge Strategic Collaboration for K-12 Web3 Education
Hooked Protocol and GEMS Education are partnering to revolutionize K-12 education by integrating Web3 technology, offering immersive learning experiences, and bridging the gap between traditional education and cutting-edge tech for the younger generation.
🤖 AI News
How Artificial Intelligence Can Catch Up With Pedagogy
The article critiques the notion that education is outdated and needs to "catch up" with AI, arguing instead that AI and tech companies should align themselves with the evolving practices of educators who are already adept at adapting to technological and societal changes.
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🤿 Weekly Deep Dive
The Future Is Intertwined for Web3 and AI with Space and Time’s Nate Holiday
Image by The Street Roundtable
This article explores the integration of AI and blockchain within the evolving landscape of Web3, aiming to address privacy concerns and enhance data security. Web3 aspires to shift digital ownership back to users, ensuring verified and reliable information while maintaining control over assets. Blockchain technology can streamline AI processes and boost productivity, fostering trust among users and businesses.
Nate Holiday, CEO of Space and Time, discusses the evolution from Web1 to Web3, emphasizing the transformative potential of decentralized ownership and real-world applications like asset tokenization. He highlights the ongoing adoption of Web3 technologies and the pivotal role of providing verifiable data for scaling blockchain-based businesses and financial processes.
Thank you for stopping by for another issue of my newsletter on emerging technology in education. Link to all my work by checking out my website or give me a follow on the X platform. I also launched a supplemental podcast for each issue, subscribe on Spotify here.