Teaching Blockchain in K9-12: Instruction materials and their assessment

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive blockchain course for K9-12 students that combines theory, hands-on activities, and gamification, demonstrating significant knowledge gains through assessment.

Contribution

It introduces a novel blockchain teaching curriculum for secondary education, integrating theory, practical application, and gamification, with accessible materials and assessment results.

Findings

Students showed significant knowledge gain.

Combining theory and hands-on activities enhanced learning.

Materials and chat application are freely available.

Abstract

This paper analyses the feasibility of including emerging IT-topics into secondary education (K9-12). We developed a class on Blockchain for K9-12 students which delivers relevant content but is also indented to motivate them to further engage with the topic. Our course consists of theory material as well as a hands-on application. Gamification techniques are utilised to encourage students and improve the learning experience. The assessment, consisting of 166 students, shows a significant knowledge gain of students exposed to our materials especially when the theory and the hands-on materials are combined. Both, i.e., teaching material and chat application, are freely available.