Ed3 Weekly Issue #136: Breaking the Chains
Hello Ed3 frens,
The past issues have focused on the new opportunities being created by the renewed interest in crypto and blockchain.
On the other side of these opportunities are the new obstacles that we need to break through to achieve the goals of broader crypto adoption.
Take AI for example. A few decades, or even years ago we would have welcomed a technology that could generate language and ideas on the spot with simple prompting.
While many of us in education have welcomed this innovation, once we saw it in practice we realized that the companies pushing this technology are challenging our autonomy and trust as educators.
The interest in crypto and blockchain is exciting, yet exposes the lack of a sound curriculum to teach about it.
The opportunity is here for us to work together to “break the channels” limiting broader adoption. Enjoy the links and summaries of the resources below. They offer some great insights into how we as educators can be part of this process.
🤖 AI News
🔗 OpenAI has released a new guide to help K-12 teachers use its AI-powered ChatGPT in the classroom. But not all educators are sold on the idea. Read
⛓️ Blockchain News
🔗 How could university groups unite to share resources, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in this developing industry? Read
🪙 Crypto News
🔗 Although the crypto industry continues to attract global curiosity and excitement, average users still lack knowledge about how cryptocurrencies work. Read
🤿 Weekly Deep Dive
This article shares an announcement by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to expand its Blockchain Academy, offering training to 24,000 personnel from UNDP, UN Volunteers, and UNCDF. The purpose of this initiative is to increase understanding of blockchain technology and to enable its application in sustainable development programs. Participants will learn how to design and implement blockchain solutions, fostering collaboration and best practices within the UN system.
The initiative highlights blockchain's potential to advance sustainability, equity, and efficiency in global development efforts. UNDP’s leadership demonstrates the growing role of emerging technologies in addressing pressing global issues as well as a pivotal shift in how blockchain is perceived—not just as a tool for cryptocurrency but as a foundational technology for tackling real-world challenges. 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. Learn more about me by visiting my website.