Think of sending a letter to your loved ones through a postman. You confide in him with the letter, but he covertly reads it without your knowledge. That sums up what is going on with us. Most businesses are on the verge of having their vulnerability exposed due to cybercrimes and heists. Whether we search, share, or download data related to someone’s identity or any other information. Web 2.0 poses a serious privacy concern in this regard.
Web 3.0, on the other hand, is poised to set new records and establish a solid foothold in the EdTech sector. The foundation of Web 3.0 is the idea of building a completely decentralized environment using the power of AI, machine learning, and cutting-edge technologies like blockchain to address the issues facing the modern online ecosystem.
Web3 has impacted every industry, and education is no exception. In the previous four to five years, there has been a proliferation of investments in Web3 for education, and more are anticipated.
Quick Takes:
- Education at Web 1.0 was confined to the knowledge transfer between students and professors at academic institutions.
- The emphasis of Web 2.0 has shifted to centralized online learning platforms.
- Web 3.0’s decentralized data and resource management is now a crucial part of the infrastructure for education. It enables students to pick up skills from a variety of sources.
- Web3 can decentralize education and improve it by making it more inclusive, collaborative, and data privacy compliant.
- Additionally, Web3 has the potential to lower education prices, making it more affordable for students from all socioeconomic levels.
- Using AR/VR and metaverse tools in education can greatly improve the learning experience.
Before discussing the Web3 revolution in education, let’s see what Web3 is.
Well….What’s Web3 & Why It Matters For EdTech?
Nowadays, no one can remain unaware of Web 3.0 technology. You may not be tech-savvy, but you will be in trouble if you reject the idea entirely. Surprisingly, Web3 has been there for a while but only recently managed to gain attention when we became hampered by the need to move digital. Web 3 refers to a user-focused Internet version and is frequently referred to as the “semantic web,” “spatial web,” or “the 3D web of the future.” It alludes to a technology that modifies how we create, communicate, and share digital content.
Blockchain technology powers Web3, a decentralized internet that provides top-notch security, transparency, and immutability. Since Web3 is still in its early stages of development, only a few definitions apply to it all. However, according to analysts, it is the next-generation Internet, which includes a wide range of ideas, including blockchain, cloud computing, AI, Metaverse technology, spatial technology, 5G, cryptocurrencies, etc.
The online education sector is one area where Web 3.0 and AI can greatly impact. Individual users can choose how they want to work online with Web3 without having to give up any useful features. It can eliminate the faulty structures that have prevented systems like education from progressing.
We will advance quickly if the implementation of web3 in the educational system is emphasized more. Learners will now receive internships focusing on their skills, group projects, and improved courses. The students will also receive NFTs, prizes, certificates, experience letters, and more on the blockchain network. Additionally, Web3 ensures that all data is secure on the network and that no single entity is in charge of all user credentials.
Traditional Education System Limitations
Web3 advancements in education have the potential to overcome the shortcomings of the current educational system. Let us look at the current educational system’s flaws.
Inaccessibility
The current educational model faces a huge barrier in terms of accessibility. Approximately 7% of people worldwide currently hold a college degree. These youngsters are all troubled by issues of inclusivity and equity since current educational institutions do not guarantee an accurate representation of all communities.
People who are only able to commit to a portion of the semester’s schedule will be able to complete the course. Some students require transportation assistance to these institutions due to their remoteness. The current structure of educational institutions restricts access.
Localization
One of the most significant barriers to education for many students is geography. There are a lot of K–12 schools in certain places. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s popularity of online university courses, many courses still call for in-person attendance from students. It’s vital to remember that some countries can only provide online courses.
Sessions Timings
Educational institutions deliver classes in chronological order under the current educational system. While some classes start in the spring or the fall, others do so during the summer. Any students who miss one of these classes will have a protracted wait.
A few educational institutions have 16-week semesters of coursework that all students must finish. In addition, since other courses are also part of the series, skipping one will make the subsequent course take longer. The emergence of accelerated programs is the result of each of these causes.
Hefty Fees
For these services, educational institutions charge hefty fees. The total cost of a child’s education, from elementary school to college, has risen significantly.
This has created a significant challenge for prospective students who require additional financial assistance. Their potential is squandered because they cannot afford to attend school. A stressful situation is frequently made worse when parents are forced to take out expensive school loans for their children.
Accreditation
In the knowledge economy, accreditation aids learning and retards change. This represents the total time spent in a classroom. While this standardizes students’ time in class, more is required to ensure mastery. We must apply theory to practice to improve our knowledge and economical skills. Competency-based accreditation methods may provide a means of rewarding mastery and overclock. Universities are coming under more and more pressure to enhance their management.
Transforming Traditional Educational System With Web3 EdTech
Competency-based education establishes the framework for web3 to function within traditional educational institutions. Students can learn skills in a variety of settings, including DAOs, web3 learning platforms, the workplace, and peer learning. Any experience can be combined to earn a traditional degree with the competency-based method (starting with slow integration).
Web3 combined with traditional education can change some things, such as:
- Allow people to relocate to other areas and continue their education.
- Allow credit for independent study, work, entrepreneurship, military service, and other activities to stack.
- Determine gifted students long before a standardised test.
Technological innovation has been a huge boon to education, from smart boards to access to laptops and tablets in the classroom to using the internet for research. Web3 EdTech innovation is now providing significant benefits to those involved in education, and improving other aspects of daily life.
Many educational technology experts are looking forward to the day when Web3 is introduced into the classroom and improves the way students learn. Web3 is a new way of utilising the internet in the classroom because it allows us to conduct research without providing personal information to companies such as Google in order to use their services.
EdTech is gaining traction not only in big cities, but also in semi-urban and rural areas. Over the last two years, there has been a significant shift toward e-learning as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. It is now an integral part of the overall framework for IT and technological education. Web3 is critical in today’s education because:
- It’s time to maximise your earning potential by utilising a digital platform that allows for the creation, monetization, and sharing of information.
- You can use Web3 to create self-learning and flexible learning modules. It enables both self-sufficiency and evolution. It also tracks learner preferences and habits in order to provide the appropriate resources and results.
- You can tailor your learning experience by incorporating your preferences and interests, including selecting specializations.
End Note
Education and other businesses are only at the start of the Web3 revolution. The most intriguing aspect is that education, like every other sector, is following the Web3 path to unprecedented success in the future. Web3 will undoubtedly transform the education sector by incorporating cutting-edge technological resources into traditional educational systems.
Because we are only at the start of the web3 revolution, education, like other businesses that are being rebuilt with a focus on ownership and involvement, should also follow the path curved for unquestionable success.
Stay connected and keep up with the trends of Web3 technology!
Read more: All About Web3 in Hospitality