Primary School Students in Victoria have started learning about Cryptocurrency!
In an Australian first, students from Wooranna Public School, Vic, are learning not just about Bitcoin, but the Blockchain itself!
They have a "School on the Blockchain" program involving a number on initiatives designed to immerse students in the Blockchain Technology.
The Primary School even created their own Cryptocurrency! Woorannacoin. Originally designed to be a voting sysyem for the students, then since developed into a learning tool to create their own currency. They are experiencing 'hands on' exploration of Bitcoin and other Cryptos.
The Blockchain Centre located in Melbourne has provided significant support over the last 5 years of development of the "School on the Blockchain"
A former Network Engineer, Kerri Nolan, turned educational Technologist, runs the program. Kerri is very enthusiastic about the benefits of young students engaging with Bitcoin, Altcoins, and its Technology. Nolan states that the program evolved from a 2012 initiative which hoped to create " Australia's first paperless, platform agnostic, "School in the Cloud."```the next logical progression from this was to try and create a "School on the Blockchain."
Wooranna Park is a low socioeconomic area. This technology empowers the students to be on an even playing field with everyone else in the world, which will in turn play a major role in the students' future. As historically most students post school would remain in the low socioeconomic group.
Wooranna Park Primary School's "School on the Blockchain" program provides students from Prep to Year 6 with many opportunities to explore Bitcoion, Altcoins and the blockchain with daily participation. Some are:
MINECRAFT ON THE BLOCKCHAIN- The schools server is stored via FTP on the storj.io blockchain (An international server with approx. 8 schools and learning spaces worldwide learning Numeracy, Literacy, QR Code building and Java coding.)
IMMUTABLE AUTHENTICATED REPORTING - Each classroom, or 'learning environment' is being setup with a STEEMIT NODE - meaning the students work is safe, secure and unchangeable using the STEEMIT Blockchain.
PROOF OF IMPORTANCE (Voting) - They are in the middle of setting up a voting system on the purchase of computer hardware for their School.
BUILDING FULL NODES - each learning Environment (classroom) at the school is building full nodes for various projects.
STEEM BLOCKCHAIN CENTRE - A facility is being built on the school grounds out of shipping containers. This will represent physically how a blockchain looks! They will function as a learning area for their crypto / blockchain activities. Each Block (shipping container) is planned to run a Full Node as well.
VIRTUAL REALITY - HTL VIVES and a bank of google cardboards allows students to explore the blockchain in virtual reality using 'bitcoin VR'
PROOF OF EXISTANCE - is another area of learning by the students . Being able to prove for example that a photo they have taken belongs to them.
Nolan states that the 'Students response has been "really positive overall" with really adult conversations on the program.
One student even asked "Why don't we have a universal basic income on the blockchain already?"
Another group of 4 students want to do their own ICO!
Go for it kiddies I say! I am thinking a move interstate may be in the pipeline..I would love to send my kids to their school :)
I best watch this space though, these students may potentially pull off something amazing..and in want in on their ICO lol..
Sorry it was a long read, but thanks for looking..have a good one !
cheers @dardi