Author Jamil Hasan reads first section of Chapter 6 on Blockchain for education in his book Blockchain Ethics: A Bridge to Abundance.
Text below:
Blockchain for Education
Edsel Clark has spent almost twenty years working in American education. He started in 2000, working as a math teacher at Naperville North High, in Naperville, Illinois. He got involved in curriculum development and mentoring, and it wasn’t long before he was tapped to run the math department at another high school, Illinois’ Glenbard North High School. Other jobs followed — Assistant Principal at Metea Valley High School, Assistant Superintendent at the La Salle Peru Township school system — before he ended up at his final job in the education system, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the Los Altos, CA school system.
Clark enjoyed working in the educational system but wanted to impact kids – and schools – at a different level. In 2015, he moved into private industry, opening What If Schools, LLC, a company that works with schools and educational technology companies to help integrate technology into their classroom. Among other things, it offers virtual-CIO and project management for schools and customizes their processes to meet districts’ specific needs.
Because of What If’s focus on cutting-edge technology, it functioned in many ways like an education-based startup. On the other side, because of Clark’s links within the education system, What If was able to help companies test and market their products in schools. He eventually became connected to the Intel education accelerator, where he became a mentor.
Soon after he became involved with What If, Clark founded myOWNedu.net, a college planning services company. This new company was based on his own experiences as he helped his teenage daughter apply for college: while working with her, he was reminded of the importance of encouraging her to pursue her own passions, rather than his passions for her. He learned to take a step back, allowed her to choose her own path and helped her to see beyond her monetary interests to find long-term purpose. After years in the educational system – and years as a parent – letting go was a challenge for him and he felt it was important to help other parents learn to do the same.
The Blockchain Focus on Community and Inclusivity
Clark’s years of working in schools led him to the conclusion that students who are involved in drug abuse and activities that might lead to gun violence were lost long before they even entered high school. Without a better outlet for their energies, students who don't feel like they belong begin to believe that they have no future for themselves. “They go out and explore things that are dangerous for them,” he explains.
On the other side, Clark’s work in high-powered Silicon Valley venture capital gave him a glimpse into a world of possibility, of deep resources and abundance. As blockchain technology became more advanced, he began to wonder how it could be harnessed to improve the educational system. He wondered if it could be the basis for community programs focused on diversity and inclusion for children, if the doorway it opened to wealth and investment could help motivate youths to participate in healthy, rewarding activities that would, in turn, enable successful, sustainable lives.
The key was finding a way that the abundance of Silicon Valley could be channeled to the needs of the educational system. The Blockchain, Clark realized, could be a vehicle for this channeling.