Thread by @EdTechPeck

gm! 🧵time friends! Been a few weeks since the last thread but I wanted to start building on the notion of the importance of mental models. Folks from both #edu and #web3 are exploring the use of blockchain tech, but each has a unique focus. Grab a ☕️ let’s dive in 👇

2) Back in April I wrote about mental models and how they influence the way we perceive the 🗺 and construct how we understand things. In this context, our lived experience in part dictates how we perceive importance of and use case for #web3 technologies.

https://twitter.com/EdTechPeck/status/1514026096597024770

3) This thread will look at on how organizations rooted in #education and #web3 approach use cases for #blockchain tech. The TLDR is they differ significantly and my opinion is this is a reflection of the mental models influencing how we forecast the impact of this tech.

4) While this is not an exhaustive review, the articles I will be sharing begin to paint a picture for how education perceives the use of blockchain and how web3 native orgs perceive it.

5) The US Office of Edtech began exploring this space publicly a few of years ago and in 2020 released the Education Blockchain Initiative. The EBI provides an overview of the technology and proposes exploration in the area of verifiable credentials. acenet.edu/Research-Insig…

6)This coincided with a phase 1 of grant funding support which targeted a series of projects most of which focused on using blockchain to increase efficiency of data sharing mostly with respect to learner records. wfmonitor.com/2022/04/15/the…

7)This article published via Getting Smart shares similar paths forward. The article poses possible use cases in the areas of data management, access, and credentialing. gettingsmart.com/2020/02/23/how… Similar thoughts were shared here: builtin.com/blockchain/blo…

8) Not to be disingenuous, there are some more recent publications that are beginning to get outside of the box looking at the power of learn2earn and play2earn models. edsurge.com/news/2022-05-1…. Despite this recent publication there is a noticeable trend. More on that later..

9) Meanwhile in #web3 land we’re seeing the emergence of a number alternative learning organizations and networks. @publicmaxwell offers a thorough overview of some of the efforts taking place in the space:

https://twitter.com/publicmaxwell/status/1502302838537527302

10) Key take aways include the use of blockchain for development of social learning communities and networks. In this category orgs. like @KERNEL0x @CryptoSocietyS1, and @DreamDAO_ @decentraliens are setting the pace leveraging this new tech to open access and opportunity.

11) Async resources are providing on demand education some of which include scaffolding to support learner growth. @zapper_fi and @rabbithole_gg are a couple of my favorite meant to help the learn about and build skills to navigate web3.

12) Suffice to say these approaches are different. Conway’s law suggests that in many cases complex products tend to be shaped in the image of the organization. This ensures that the new product or innovation fits into existing structures. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27…

13) How do we avoid the situation where #web3 tech is watered down or used only in a way that conforms with current education practices?

14) @Ed3DAO and @Ed3educators we are super interested in finding ways to answer this question. I would encourage you to join our community linked below where we are getting the conversation started. 🙌

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