A bitcoin obsessed university lecturer.

[Lida93]

I read an article about an opinion of a university lecturer who believed bitcoin can be used to propagate critical thinking and study culture in students, spending the needed time on their academic work and assignments engagement. His argument is that due to how financially demanding gaining a university degree is and students had to struggle with part-time paid jobs and study which greatly affects their academical development at the end as university graduates.

University education is expensive. Even within the U.K., tales of students leaving with £90,000 (about $115,000) of debt are not uncommon, which raises the question of the value that can be realized by a university degree when offset by this considerable cost.
To help manage the scale of this expenditure, it is now common for students to have part-, if not full-time, jobs, with recent figures showing this is the case for the majority of students in the U.K. The same article also stated that the time some students spend on university work suffers as a result of the time they dedicate to paid employment.

The aim of embedding a bitcoin seed phrase into course material is meant to promote student engagement with material earlier, so they are able to formulate projects while still leaving time to complete them. The indirect orange pilling takes place as students become aware of Bitcoin, learn how they interact with the network and maybe, just maybe, begin their journey down the Bitcoin rabbit hole. If students want to win the bounty, they will have to engage with the material, keeping an eye out for seed words, with every student starting from the same point, hopefully motivating them to engage sufficiently to have the chance of winning the prize. Even those who do not win the prize will hopefully have engaged more than they would have otherwise (a positive for university education).

He therefore proposed an alternative approach that can promote students engagements on class modules through provision of cash prize for the best works by embedding a bitcoin wallet seed phrase within module material and for students to have a chance of opening the wallet, they would have to attend specific sessions and taking critical reviews on their materials.

Just like bounty hunt, the aim is for those students who won the bounty and those who do not win would have engaged so much in their study than they ordinarily would have done.

Two perspectives to grab is that for a bitcoiner it's another method to stage a bitcoin mass awareness and adoption within the university community which could create a bitcoin  business investment interest in students afterwards particularly final year graduating students that gets enthusiastic and passionate about bitcoin.
While the second perspective is that,  to an educationist the derivational aim is to get students more engaging and interested in studying and talking about the module.
Source:Bitcoin magazine

If that is so, then I have a few questions to ask that I'll want us to discuss; what is your own thought on this and this idea if initiated what is the possibility that it can meet both ends of it's aim?  what if the students or a majority get disinterested about the whole idea and method?

[UchihaSarada]

I read an article about an opinion of a university lecturer who believed bitcoin can be used to propagate critical thinking and study culture in students, spending the needed time on their academic work and assignments engagement.

Changing yourself and having better crticial thinking with Bitcoin, it is an amplification from him to impress his students?

I disagree about these critical points in his lecture. His students must understand Bitcoin basics, explore to use it and should not be taught about Bitcoin as a digital from cryptography that can do everything.

It is a lie and not true and his students should not be taught like this because they will teach others around them like brothers, sisters, parents, relatives, friends, neighbors.

[komisariatku]

I read an article about an opinion of a university lecturer who believed bitcoin can be used to propagate critical thinking and study culture in students,

I honestly don't like the coercion mechanism. Also, I don't know where bitcoin has anything to do with critical thinking and learning culture. For those who don't like bitcoin, the more they are forced to know bitcoin, the more they hate it. In addition, even someone who is new to bitcoin will not like bitcoin right away, someone who likes bitcoin usually understands how the financial system works, how the hegemony of the dollar is, and how dollars are freely printed without reserves of gold, etc. So to love bitcoin we need to understand the economic and financial system first

I also disagree with the gifting method. In my opinion, the task of students is to study, they must continue to study even though there are no prizes given. Giving gifts will make them pragmatic and willing to learn when there are prizes, if there are no prizes then they will be lazy

In addition, if bitcoin is considered profitable by trading activity, then it becomes a new problem. Bitcoin has a very volatile price, for a beginner it will be very risky to carry out trading activities. If one expects them to invest long term in bitcoins, I don't think students have a source of income to buy bitcoins and hold them for a long time.

[Doan9269]

I read an article about an opinion of a university lecturer who believed bitcoin can be used to propagate critical thinking and study culture in students, spending the needed time on their academic work and assignments engagement. His argument is that due to how financially demanding gaining a university degree is and students had to struggle with part-time paid jobs and study which greatly affects their academical development at the end as university graduates.

Is it that his aim is to teach bitcoin to the students by inculcating the stury into the course modules or he's taking his personal interest to see the students understand how a decentralized financial system works and enlightens them on financial opportunities in a decentralized digital financial economy.

He therefore proposed an alternative approach that can promote students engagements on class modules through provision of cash prize for the best works by embedding a bitcoin wallet seed phrase within module material and for students to have a chance of opening the wallet, they would have to attend specific sessions and taking critical reviews on their materials.

Is bitcoin part of their course modules he teaches or how will the students realized there's seed phrase embedded on their course modules, is this his own personal approach to engage his own students under his supervision or another thing entirely.

[harapan]

I think it's not the worst of ideas, but for people that are new to Bitcoin, why introduce it to them in this way?
It feels forced. Besides that is not going to stop the students from getting jobs that will eat up the times that they should use to study. I believe people should be taught about Bitcoin. They should have the eagerness to want to know about Bitcoin, not through incentives and rewards. So what happens when the incentives are not there?  Bitcoin shouldn't be forced down on people. If people don't want to use Bitcoin then they shouldn't, we all have our opinions.

[Helena Yu]

That's not a good way to teach Bitcoin, however everyone must be interested when it's related with something valuable.

I believe they still not understand Bitcoin even though they've answered many answers to get the prize, they're just memorizing and not practicing what they're doing. Sooner or later they will forget about Bitcoin, similar like most of students forget with the subjects they've learn for many many years.

[Sim_card]

Snip

The lecturer is taking bitcoin teaching very personal and he should not teach them by force,if it is not part of their course,then there is no need for him taking it far by putting it in their modulo. I like his idea to assist his students in knowing the potential of bitcoin so that they can start their bitcoin journey early than expected, but the problem here is that it shouldn't be compulsory to make all of them partake in such class. He should first enlighten them about the basics of bitcoin and give them time to think if they will be interested in such class before he can go on with his plan. If you teach someone what he doesn't have interest on,it is a waste of time. As for prize giving, the idea is cool because it will encourage the students that are willing to learn bitcoin to put in more effort to bring out their best performance. After all in some schools,they do give prize to the best students in various classes at the end of the evey academy session.

[Husires]

The resources allocated for scientific research in some countries are considered good, so student debt is a bigger problem than Bitcoin can solve. Bitcoin may alleviate this problem for some students, but it is nothing more than an investment opportunity that may increase students' income.
Some students solve this problem by working part-time, some by learning additional skills such as programming, some by trading, and buying Bitcoin may be one of the solutions.

In some countries student debt is a political problem that is being exploited well before elections. Teaching students about the economy, the importance of saving, investing, and bitcoin may relieve these debts in addition to other roles that governments can play.

[summonerrk]

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If that is so, then I have a few questions to ask that I'll want us to discuss; what is your own thought on this and this idea if initiated what is the possibility that it can meet both ends of it's aim?  what if the students or a majority get disinterested about the whole idea and method?

I think that with all the above-described lifestyle of a modern English student, this lecturer should have understood how big the risks of telling students about bitcoin are. It's just that, first of all, students are maximalists. When you are a student, you are young and full of strength and hope, it seems to you that your whole life is ahead. And that there are a lot of good things in the future. I want to get everything at once, and not work part-time, frantically trying to study at the university. Therefore, I think that many students, after learning about bitcoin, will risk their money without thinking about money management.

[Ambatman]

The reward system is nice
But shouldn't be tied to cracking a Bitcoin wallet
They should focus on their course of study
Bitcoin may relieve student debt doesn't mean its an appropriate method
What about in countries where Bitcoin are illegal?
Bitcoin trading or Holding requires patience and time
Personally' I don't really take any teaching
that's been excessive serious.
Bitcoin awareness isn't all about understanding its technicalities
There are better ways to assist students or creating Bitcoin awareness.

[Pandu Geddon]

If that is so, then I have a few questions to ask that I'll want us to discuss; what is your own thought on this and this idea if initiated what is the possibility that it can meet both ends of it's aim?  what if the students or a majority get disinterested about the whole idea and method?

that is the challenge that must be solved by the teacher. because he dared to use other methods in an effort to get a good response from his learning system. Of course, the teacher must prepare other strategies to get the goals of his learning.
I'm sure not all students will be happy with the method used. in the learning strategy of course there will be a failure in some of the interests of the students. we cannot judge whether this will be successful or not, because it is the teacher who can provide conclusions on the success or failure of the method he uses to build the interest of his students.
not all students like Bitcoin. Not all students like their teachers. and not all students like the material. a teacher may have to be prepared with it all.

[kryptqnick]

My first question is who's going to sponsor the implementation of the idea. Why should a teacher spend some of their salary on that? If not the teacher, then who? Bitcoin costs money, so a cash prize requires the cash from someone to make it work. If it's a very small amount, I don't think it will encourage students, and if it's big, the financial burden over someone who introduces it can be great. I'm also concerned that there will actually be abuse of the system, one way or another. Some students will just force some AI to analyze the words, and brute force potential seed phrases, without actually studying what they're supposed to be studying.
At first glance, it sounds like a nice idea, but I don't think it's very practical and helpful in real life.

[Agbe]

Bitcoin can be used as a General Studies (GS) in University for all the students bro participate but what Op is saying depends on the country. And the university lecturer can not imposed bitcoin to teach students in the University without the approval of the school management. Op I also advise you to put the source link to thread, I tried to check the "Bitcoin Magazine website to see if the news is there but I didn't see any news like that, so I advise you to insert the link to the source
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/

[Dr.Bitcoin_Strange]

For me, this is a good idea; at least for every student that wins, it will be an advantage to them that they will have financial support to support them in their academics. But my question is, how about a student who did not win but is hoping to win because they have some outstanding debt related to their academic work? What will be the fate of those students who don't win? Although every student who participated would gain more knowledge from their study because of the level of engagement, but money is also needed to further the academics. Another question is who will sponsor that idea because the lecture alone cannot do it, and even if he tries, he can only add like 2 to 4 students that will be able to win.

[ImThour]

I would never prefer any University or anyone to introduce Bitcoin to new audience in this way. The way I learnt about Bitcoin was so much fun, my dumb friend told me that you can generate coins from your system and then sell it for money. I literally laughed and didn't believed him for a whole month and then I did my first research on it, learning naturally by searching something which interests you is the best. However, Bitcoin should be part of modern education just to make students aware of the alternatives.

[Flexystar]

I think this idea is excellent. I am not sure how you guys are not liking it. Imagine this idea would even work if they are going to find the phrase out of greed! They will have to work on it, they will have to read through it and go through the classes as well. This will consciously take them towards amazing learning path. Obviously the studious one would be leaders in this one as they will crack the code easily but since it's gonna be competitive everyone would want to compete for this and achieve that level. I am really impressed with the idea of this but it has to be planned in detailed to work properly. So much that it should have a plan to release the funds in step by step manner. For example A funds during first semester then B on the second semester and so on. Believe me, the perspective for every user might be different here but it will work just fine if planned with best minds.

[Blitzboy]

Bitcoin as a reward for academic participation is brilliant. It exposes pupils to blockchain and digital currency and motivates them to study. Students' interests are key. If students want to learn about Bitcoin, it might be a "win-win" for academic engagement and crypto awareness. If a lot of pupils are apathetic, the program may not work.

However, the beauty of this plan is that it indirectly forces pupils to learn about Bitcoin, regardless of interest. Imagine a student who wants that BTC bounty must learn how to use a Bitcoin wallet, manage seed phrases, and navigate the BTC network. Even if they joined for the money, they'd learn a lot about Bitcoin and blockchain tech.

[Cryptomultiplier]

Initiatives like these don't even much publicity because as it stands now in the UK, crypto currency is acceptable, only that it is being regulated.
I understand the lecturers point of view, because the stress of switching modes between doing a job and schooling affects performance and CGPA  at the end of the day and where it gets worse is having to not put the certificate to use.

BTC incorporated learning with rewards for academic participation, introduced even in high school curriculum, would go a long way to grow the economy of any country within the span of 5-7years.
I hope to see this idea executed as it will help other countries adopt such scheme to grow their economy instead of churning out graduates yearly without jobs or income opportunities.

[Captain Corporate]

If you have to get a student's attention by paying him, then you shouldn't even try to get their attention to begin with. There is no law that states every student has to be good, you just need to make sure that you give them what you can, and if they want to take it, they will learn everything they can, they will be involved, you will know students like that for sure. However, there will be students who will be terrible, like me for example, I wasn't very good myself, sure I did alright on my tests, but never in class. So if you have to do something that will improve anything, then I would highly suggest you should consider just letting them be, and focus on the ones who care.

[KiaKia]

I'm curious how he is going to get paid for doing this, he is a lecturer and teaching Bitcoin is not one of his work, it's even illegal to do this because i am certain that's a government college or university, and for the fact that he is even forcing Bitcoin on them sounds unbelievable, I will like to read more about this OP, if you can drop the source link where you read this from?

If he is forcing the students to learn about Bitcoin, I can't help but think that this lecturer has other plan, maybe he will later run a Ponzi scheme where he will ask the students to invest in something? Because, sorry to say, this doesn't make any sense.

We are not talking about kids here, these are grown up, and they are old enough to make their own decisions, this isn't learning, it could make them hate Bitcoin even more.