Ed3 Weekly Issue #123: Growing, Changing, Testing, Building
The blockchain innovation cycle continues with more and more refinement of applications in education
Hello Ed3 Community,
One challenge with technological innovation is that it often moves faster than the systems it aims to support. However, this doesn’t mean all is lost. Technology plays an essential role in revealing what’s possible and inspiring parts of the system to catch up.
This week’s news and resources are evidence of this relationship.
AI technology is advancing rapidly—so fast that some schools assume teachers may no longer be needed. This might seem sensible in a system that prioritizes rote learning and memorization. However, as more teaching and learning models emphasize deep, meaningful engagement, AI will likely play a supportive role, complementing human-to-human learning pathways.
Another example of this dynamic is seen with school DAOs. Once a hot topic in the blockchain world, decentralized autonomous organizations are proving difficult to scale and often have unclear structures.
They highlight the need for more holistic, community-based learning models that leverage contributions from all stakeholders to support education.
These patterns extend to the metaverse, virtual reality, and other immersive technologies as well.
The resources this week touch on these themes, exploring AI, DAOs, and the metaverse.
This is why I chose a related web3 topic for our weekly deep dive. Futures thinking, particularly Afrofuturism, is key to bridging the gap between innovation and application.
By designing our preferred futures, we not only put innovative technology into action but also shape new realities that exist beyond our current imaginations.
Check out this week’s resources to learn more.
And don’t forget to check out my summary of this week’s resources on the Ed3 Weekly Podcast.
🤖 AI News
High School Starts Replacing Teachers With AI
Image by Getty / Futurism
🔗 A high school in London, UK will let students around the age of 15 use AI tools before taking standardized exams next year, despite experts warning that they make for a poor replacement for human teachers. Read
🏫 DAO News
Putting the DeFi horse before the DeCentralized Learning cart of k12DAO schools
Image by Getty
🔗 DeCentralized Learning founder of The Geniī DAO, GENIE app, and $BeMeToken shares her journey in building a decentralized school. Read
🌐 Metaverse News
Metaverse in Education Due for Exponential Growth Spurt
Image by Shutterstock/is.a.bella
🔗 In a new report, market researchers said the use of metaverse technology in education will increase greatly in the next four years. The industry, they estimated, will rise from $3.9 billion to $19.3 billion by 2028. Read
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🤿 Weekly Deep Dive
Afrofuturism as Liberation and Design with Ingrid LaFleur
Image from Getting Smart
I typically focus on web3-specific resources for this newsletter, but I realized that in doing this I am not sharing the full story. Afro-futurism is a key example of this. This article showcases an interview with Afrofuturist Ingrid LaFleur, and reveals the key components of this worldview that are critical for any technologist involved in web3.
There are five main parts to this interview:
I recommend familiarizing yourself not only with the field of futurism but specifically with Afrofuturism as well. It, along with foresight methodologies, can help you understand what is in store for us on the horizon.
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, listen on Spotify here.