StudentReader.io - Catalyst Fund 10
Identity, Oracles, and Smart Contracts, with Atala PRISM and AIKEN
Excitement fills the air as we proudly announce our first Catalyst proposal submission! We have set our sights on the Open Source Dev Ecosystem challenge, driven by our passion for education and the transformative potential of Web3 technology. In this blog post, we'll share the motivations behind our proposal, our vision for a Student Reader developed mini-coding-bootcamp providing hands on experience developing a very specific type of smart contract, an Identity Aware Smart Contract.
This powerful construct, integrating decentralized identity, with an Oracle, facilitating trusted interactions with a smart-contract, unlocks an incredible diversity of product concepts and innovation. We want to have specific impact by focusing this course on a simple use case, Integrating Atala PRISM SSI infrastructure using the AIKEN smart-contract programming language, to create a simple Student Scholarship Smart Contract. We hope this will be a valuable example code and use-case to harden and deploy into many other projects in varieties of industries. The design pattern combining decentralized identity, oracles, and smart-contracts has not been deeply explored in production use cases, this is an opportunity to put code into production, learn how it works, and how this simple idea can be refined and extended.
This pattern is being deployed as a version one for the Atala PRISM Foundations of Decentralized Identity Learner-to-Earner program, where we have created the Ecosystem Governance Framework, and the Digital Trust Governance Framework, under which all Student Reader programs operate.
This Catalyst Fund 10 Proposal is intended to build a version two of the Oracle and Smart Contract, taking lessons learned from the first deployment, at the same time as providing the educational material and code for the second version or the Oracle and Smart Contract as a community open source asset. This time being built with the latest from Atala PRISM V2, along with the acclaimed AIKEN smart contract programming language.
Discovering AIKEN
During the Continuum Web3 conference in Miami, inspiration struck. A panel discussion introduced us to AIKEN, a promising smart contract language within the Cardano ecosystem. Recognizing its immense potential, we immediately envisioned the next step in our Learner-to-Earner journey. We realized that building a course focused on foundational knowledge about Smart Contracts, with a practical example being used as the Oracle and Student Scholarship Smart Contract showcasing Atala PRISM and the AIKEN smart contract language, this could be a game-changer for aspiring developers, and introduce completely new functionality, and a modern implementation, to the Cardano developer ecosystem!
The Funding Imperative
Why do we seek funding at this moment? As a newcomer to the Web3 technology space, our Learner-to-Earner vision was initially clouded by uncertainties. We needed tangible progress to validate the feasibility of our goals. Now, having witnessed the unfolding journey and proven the potential of Web3 technology, we are confident in our ability to make a real impact. The success of our Atala PRISM Foundations of Decentralized Identity 101 course, which we bootstrapped, and the lessons we learned have given us the confidence to streamline our scholarship funding process. By securing funding, we can focus on building the course content while ensuring a sustainable scholarship program through efficient treasury management.
Vision for the Smart Contract Learner-to-Earner Program
Our vision is ambitious yet driven by the belief that education should be accessible to all. We aspire to see over 500 students purchase the course reader, dive into the course, and earn the coveted course completion credential. Furthermore, we aim to fund at least 100 scholarships, each worth $400 USD, from the proceeds of the Student Reader NFT book sales. We understand that scholarships can only be sustained through donations and sales of NFTs. As our treasury grows, we will fund as many scholarships as possible, empowering learners to take their educational journey to new heights.
The Unwavering Journey
Regardless of funding outcomes, our commitment to the Learner-to-Earner program remains resolute. We are passionate about fostering education and embracing Web3 technology to democratize access to knowledge. Our journey is driven by the belief that StudentReader can play a pivotal role in making education more accessible and inclusive. With or without external funding, we will continue our mission, leveraging our experience, community connections, and unwavering determination.
Conclusion
As we submit our Catalyst proposal, we stand proud, fueled by the vision of empowering learners through the Learner-to-Earner program. Our goal is to shape the future of education by leveraging the power of Web3 technology. While funding would undoubtedly accelerate our progress, our unwavering commitment ensures that our journey will continue, bringing education and opportunity to learners in the Cardano ecosystem. Join us as we embark on this transformative adventure, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future of learning.