Polkadot & Web3 Educational Courses Launching on edX
Web3 Foundation, in partnership with edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, is launching Web3x, four foundational courses on Polkadot, Web3, and blockchain technology. The courses cover fundamentals of blockchain and Polkadot technology, including the Substrate blockchain framework and the Rust programming language.
In this piece, we’ll introduce the content of the introductory level courses: Introduction to Blockchain and Web3 and Introduction to Polkadot. The courses are open for enrollment now, and will begin on October 27th, 2022. They are free to try, and no prior experience or knowledge is required.
About edX
edX is the education movement for restless learners and a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. Together with the majority of the world’s top-ranked universities and industry-leading companies, edX brings its community of over 45 million learners world-class education to support them at every stage of their lives and careers, from free courses to full degrees.
edX is a mission driven organization, committed to transforming traditional education, removing the barriers of cost, location, and access. edX’s focus on delivering best-in-class learning resources made it a natural partner for Web3 Foundation in helping to educate the broadest possible audience on the future of the web.
“We are excited to welcome Web3 Foundation to the global community of edX learners,” said Anant Agarwal, edX Founder and 2U Chief Platform Officer. “edX and Web3 Foundation are both dedicated to increasing access to educational opportunities that help learners unlock their potential in in-demand fields like blockchain. We look forward to launching additional courses in the future.”
Bertrand Perez, CEO of Web 3 Foundation, said: “Education is one of the most important foundation pillars for Web3. It’s extremely important that we continue to provide key knowledge around the fundamentals of both Web3 technology and the Polkadot network to help guide the next generation of talented builders, developers and entrepreneurs in the blockchain sector. Part of this ongoing process is to launch partnerships with established educators and we are confident that edX has the right attributes to form a valuable long-term collaboration with Web3 Foundation.”
About Introduction to Blockchain and Web3
Introduction to Blockchain and Web3 is designed to build the foundational knowledge and skills required to understand and experiment with developments in the blockchain space and Web3. This course is for learners who are enthusiastic about blockchain concepts but have limited or no knowledge of computer science concepts.
The instructors are Radhakrishna Dasari and Bill Laboon of Web3 Foundation and the course lasts six weeks with an assumed effort of 3–4 hours per week.
The course begins with the history and key terminology of blockchains, Bitcoin, Ethereum and Web3, and then takes a deep dive into the technology that powers blockchains. The concepts of cryptography, hashing, and security in the context of blockchains are explored along with hands-on activities that familiarize the learners with digital wallets and blockchain explorers. We’ll also cover the difference between layer-0, layer-1, and layer-2 technologies, and look at some of the use cases for each.
Next, we explore the concepts of block production and finality, consensus, nodes and networking in blockchain networks. Towards the end of the course, we’ll explore the blockchain layers and applications centered around networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Polkadot. We wrap up the course by exploring the current landscape of Web3 and the future of blockchain technology.
This course is open for enrollment starting today and is free to try. No prior experience or knowledge is required.
About Introduction to Polkadot
Developed by the Technical Education team at Web3 Foundation, this course provides a comprehensive overview of Polkadot, its technology, and ecosystem.
The course also features Polkadot founders, who introduce its vision, features and architecture. First, learners are introduced to the key terminology and are shown how to interact with the Polkadot network with numerous hands-on activities. Later, we dive deeper into the concepts of the shared security, interoperability, cryptography, consensus, and networking aspects of Polkadot. We wrap up the course by taking a look at developing within the Polkadot ecosystem and how you can get started.
This course is open for enrollment starting today and is free to try. The course is open to learners with foundational knowledge on blockchain.
Conclusion
Web3 Foundation’s partnership with edX is set to help blockchain enthusiasts worldwide get to grips with the fundamentals of the technology powering the next generation of the web. Open and accessible to learners of all levels, these two courses offer the perfect introduction to the core concepts governing blockchain and the Polkadot network. Visit edX today to start your learning journey and learn more about Introduction to Blockchain and Web3 and Introduction to Polkadot.
