Adding Web 3.o to the Academic World
A decentralized world is on its way. No longer will there be a centralized repository for information, no gatekeepers of data. Individuals will be able to access what they need when they want, they will have control over the information they consume, how often they consume it, and why they access it. Web 3.0 is a paradigm shift in the way in which we interact with Social Institutions such as the economy, government, and education. We are on the forefront of a transition from a closed to a much more open ecosystem that we interact with on a daily basis.
Synthesis
Web 3.0 is a the current state of the World Wide Web, constantly evolving from Web 2.0 from the early 2000's (Investopedia Team, 2023). The idea behind Web 3.0 is a more decentralized internet with more utility for its users. There is a move towards more Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and a sense of permission-less access to knowledge and information (Investopedia Team, 2023).
This is especially relevant to academia as there is a shift towards more open education, such as the Open Education Resources. The author of the article provided to us, Melissa Delaney, described a common trend of blending the digital and physical world and utilizing available videos as a learning tool (Delaney, 2022). The overarching theme of the the article is a more open, free to access, and participatory internet with users becoming part of their education.
There is an opportunity for "continuous personalized learning" from the stand point of the student (Delaney, 2022). Web 3.0 Academia will be much more collaborative, engaging, and open to more people who may not have had access due to various social conditions. For example, the Massive Open Online Courses are made available to anyone at anytime regardless of background (Delaney, 2022).
Importance
Web 3.0 will or already is important to academia in a multitude of ways. First, we must recognize that Web 3.0 means a decentralized internet and stripping social institutions of their gatekeeping powers (Driscoll, 2022) which will weaken their hold on the ability for students to access knowledge. Students can seek out information on their own, find what is important to them, and ultimately decide how to use the information in their own lives. Using Web 3.0 technologies, colleges and universities can create more personalized learning opportunities for students based on their personal skills.
Students are no longer bound by the rules of the administration, no longer hindered by a structured schedule and curriculum (Driscoll, 2022). Furthermore, once the metaverse is finally realized and accessible, geography will no longer be a hinderance to learning. Students will be able to interact in real time with experts and other students who share the same interests and ideas. They will be able to access professionals in this digital world - blending and leveraging both the physical and virtual worlds (Driscoll, 2022).
This shift from the traditional brick and mortar schools to the open online digital world will allow students to keep track of their own progress, build their own portfolios, and maintain their own transcripts on the blockchain. The blockchain allows for a permanent record open for the world to see, not locked behind a paywall of the university and its rigid requirements for completion. A fully utilized Web 3.0, in education, will be open to everyone, where no one has control over the what we learn, how we learn, or more importantly, why we learn. Web 3.0 will create a more balanced playing field for those that have been denied access to traditional education due to their socio-economic status.
Evaluation
After completing the videos and readings for the week, Web 3.0 is coming and we must learn to adapt to the changes in how individuals will access information and knowledge. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) such as ChatGPT into education forces us to recognize that academia is changing. I am intrigued by these changes and push myself to delve deeper into the world of AI, the Metaverse, blockchain technology, etc., as they will only help me connect with students as they choose to come into academia.
The more we know about what our students are doing and how they are accessing information can only benefit everyone. As an educator, I fully understand and accept that students will reach out and find what they are looking for using whatever tools they have at their disposal and the Web 3.0 internet contains some of the greatest tools.
Future Reference:
Works Referenced:
Delaney, M. (2022, April 18). What is web 3.0, really, and what does it mean for education? Technology Solutions That Drive Education. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2012/10/what-web-30-really-and-what-does-it-mean-education
Driscoll, T. (2022, November 11). Making sense of web 3.0 in Education. EdTechTeacher. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://edtechteacher.org/making-sense-of-web-3-0-in-education/
Investopedia Team. (2023, January 11). Web 3.0 explained, plus the history of web 1.0 and 2.0. Investopedia. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.investopedia.com/web-20-web-30-5208698
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