Please describe your proposed solution.
We propose creating a Catalyst PBL (CPBL) implemented on Andamio, an LMS built on Cardano with skill and contribution tracking, treasury management, and smart contract capabilities.
Project-based learning
Gimbalabs, the organization developing the Andamio LMS platform, has years of experience onboarding developers to the Cardano ecosystem through its Plutus PBL program (<https://plutuspbl.io/>).
PBL methodology is a tried and tested method; it is student-centered, meaning a facilitator allows space for learners to explore the content and solve problems through collaborative peer-to-peer learning and critical thinking.
The PBL method takes advantage of our natural curiosity, presents real-world problems, and invites us to solve them creatively. This approach engages learners in meaningful work and creates a deep, long-term understanding of the subject.
This approach is ideal when onboarding users into complex and sometimes difficult-to-grasp topics. A PBL program is the perfect approach to onboard users into Project Catalyst’s tech stack, as shown by the successful onboarding of Plutus developers through the Plutus PBL.
Fig 1. The PBL Framework. A high overview description of a PBL module.
Live coding sessions
Through live coding sessions, students can get to know each other and collaborate to resolve problems, answer questions and even find partners for projects outside the program. Gimbalabs’ Plutus PBL is currently on its 4th iteration and has empowered more than 500 students to start learning Cardano development and gain invaluable real-world experience.
The Andamio platform
Andamio is a Learning Management System (LMS) built on Cardano that includes smart contracts and UI components for treasury management, skill and contribution tracking, and emergent reputation. The Andamio platform allows an array of possibilities that enhance the PBL experience for learners and facilitate user onboarding for organizations such as Project Catalyst.
The Andamio platform can provide this because it offers a blend of capabilities which combine the best of education, work and collaboration:
Skill and contribution tracking provides a relatively short feedback loop incentivizing and rewarding learners that engage with the material with what we like to call ‘emergent reputation’. Emergent reputation refers to the on-chain record of skills and contributions that a student can earn by completing mastery-based assessments included in PBL modules. Once students show mastery of a subject matter, they are presented with the opportunity to contribute to real projects, again providing an incentive in the form of monetary rewards through treasury management capabilities integrated in the Andamio platform and real-world work experience.
Fig 2. The Andamio platform: A) Landing page, B) Student skills and contributions record; C) Skills and contributions record dashboard; D) Student record aggregate
Catalyst Project-based learning (CPBL) program
Project Catalyst’s current tech stack consists of:
- Postgresql Database to store all Catalyst Data
- Data importer tools to import data from ideascale and generate voter registration and power snapshots from dbSync.
- A VIT servicing stations for voting information related to the current fund.
- The Jormungandr Node, a restricted blockchain designed for voting applications.
- GVC - A replacement for Catalyst’s voting dApp that supports dReps.
Fig 3. Project Catalyst’s current documentation solution and Tech Stack.
A Project Catalyst PBL would provide members of the community interested in using Project Catalyst’s tech stack:
- A one-of-a-kind interactive learning experience thanks to the use of PBL methodology and blockchain technology for skill and contribution tracking.
- On-chain proof of skills acquired and contributions made to real-world projects, an invaluable resource for new developers seeking professional experience.
- Access to peer to peer learning and communities of interest where participants of the CPBL can connect with members of the Cardano community.
At the same time, Project Catalyst would benefit from a CPBL program by:
- Creating a space to engage with members of the Cardano community interested in learning to use their technology stack.
- Gather feedback from students actively engaging and learning to use their technology.
- Provide incentives in the way of rewards for learners to contribute to documentation, fixing bugs, doing maintenance, etc.
This proposal aims to provide funding to:
- Create comprehensive documentation of each component of Project Catalyst’s tech stack.
- Create an interactive CPBL program to onboard users to Project Catalyst’s tech stack.
- Provide weekly Live coding sessions to support learners and foster community building and growth.
How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?
Our proposed solution, the Catalyst Project-based Learning (CPBL) program implemented on the Andamio platform, represents a significant procedural improvement to streamline and enhance the Project Catalyst process. It directly addresses the challenge of onboarding users to Project Catalyst's ambitious tech stack by providing comprehensive documentation and an interactive learning experience. At Gimbalabs, our team not only has years of expertise in PBL methodology but also a successful track record of using PBL programs to onboard Plutus developers within the Cardano ecosystem. Our solution offers unique benefits to the Cardano ecosystem, including:
- Increasing User Onboarding: The CPBL program directly addresses the challenge of onboarding users to Project Catalyst's tech stack by providing a comprehensive and interactive learning experience.
- Leveraging Project-Based Learning (PBL) Methodology: By implementing PBL methodology, learners are engaged in solving real-world problems and collaborating in peer-to-peer learning, leading to a deep and long-term understanding of the subject matter.
- Cardano-Powered Skill and Contribution Tracking: The integration of Cardano technology in the CPBL program enables on-chain proof of skills acquired and contributions made to real-world projects, providing tangible evidence of learners' proficiency and experience.
- Incentivizing Active Participation: The CPBL program incentivizes learners to actively engage with the documentation, fix bugs, perform maintenance tasks, and contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of Project Catalyst's tech stack.
- Strengthened Community Engagement: The CPBL program fosters a vibrant and engaged community within the Cardano ecosystem, attracting new developers, enthusiasts, and contributors who bring fresh perspectives and ideas.
- Enhanced Human Capital: By providing a space for active learning and professional experience, the CPBL program cultivates a pool of skilled developers and contributors within the Cardano ecosystem, accelerating innovation and project development.
- Increased Proposal Quality and Efficiency: As more individuals gain proficiency in using Project Catalyst's tech stack through the CPBL program, we expect a surge in high-quality proposals, efficient voting processes, and impactful community-driven projects.
- Quantitative Impact: Within 12 months, we aim to onboard at least 500 active participants to the CPBL program, contributing to a significant increase in the usage and transactions within the Cardano ecosystem. This growth will position Cardano as a leading platform for decentralized innovation and governance.
- Fueling Ecosystem Expansion: The CPBL program will attract a considerable number of skilled developers and enthusiasts to the Cardano ecosystem, creating a diverse and robust community.
- Accelerating Project Development: With an influx of skilled contributors, the Cardano ecosystem will experience accelerated project development, leading to the launch of innovative and impactful applications.
- Maturing Governance Processes: Through active participation in the CPBL program, learners will develop a deep understanding of governance mechanisms, contributing to the evolution and maturation of Cardano's decentralized governance model.
How do you intend to measure the success of your project?
To assess the success of the CPBL program and its impact on the Cardano ecosystem, we will employ a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics. These metrics will provide insights into user participation, contributions, learning outcomes, and overall user satisfaction. Here's how we intend to measure the project's benefits and gauge its success:
- Number of Students Participating in the CPBL Program:
- Measure the number of students actively enrolled in the CPBL program throughout its duration.
- Track the growth in student participation over time, setting realistic targets for incremental increases.
- Number of Students Completing the CPBL Program:
- Monitor the number of students who successfully complete all modules and assessments within the CPBL program.
- Aim to achieve a high completion rate by providing engaging content, effective support, and a clear learning pathway.
- Number of CPBL Students' Contributions:
- Quantify the number and quality of contributions made by CPBL students to real-world projects within the Cardano ecosystem.
- Evaluate the impact and significance of their contributions, such as bug fixes, documentation improvements, or feature implementations.
- Amount of Ada Distributed as Rewards for CPBL Student Contributions:
- Track the quantity of Ada tokens distributed as rewards for CPBL student contributions.
- Measure the economic value generated by students' active participation and successful completion of project-related tasks.
- Number of CPBL Contributor Tokens Minted:
- Introduce a CPBL contributor token as a means to recognize and incentivize active participants.
- Measure the number of tokens minted and distributed to CPBL students based on their contributions.
In addition to these quantitative metrics, we will conduct pre and post CPBL surveys to gather qualitative data and feedback. These surveys will focus on assessing student learning, understanding their learning challenges, gauging user satisfaction, and identifying opportunities for refinements and enhancements to the CPBL program and the Project Catalyst - Andamio LMS instance.
The innovation of the CPBL program, combined with the robust features of the Andamio LMS platform, will have both short-term and long-term effects on Cardano's productivity and growth:
-
Short-term: Increased engagement and active participation by CPBL students will lead to more efficient documentation, bug fixes, maintenance tasks and increase number of contribution within the Project Catalyst and overall the Cardano ecosystem. This will enhance the overall productivity and quality of projects, accelerating the pace of Cardano governance development.
-
Long-term: The CPBL program will foster a skilled community of developers and contributors who possess in-depth knowledge of Project Catalyst's tech stack. These individuals will continue to contribute to the ecosystem, driving innovation, and expanding Cardano's capabilities. The long-term impact will be reflected in the sustained growth, improved governance processes, and the development of impactful projects within the Cardano ecosystem.
Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?
- Gitlab code repository
- The Andamio platform generates contributor tokens that record student progress through the program on-chain.
- Live coding sessions
- Recordings shared via YouTube
- Progress reports shared via Project Catalyst Town Halls and website.
We have robust plans in place to effectively share the outputs and results of the CPBL project with the Cardano community and beyond. Our goal is to disseminate the knowledge gained, highlight the impact of the project, and create opportunities for further collaboration and development. Here's how we intend to share our outputs over a reasonable timescale:
- GitLab Code Repository:
- We will maintain a dedicated GitLab repository to host the codebase, documentation, and resources related to the CPBL project.
- The repository will serve as a hub for community members and developers to access and contribute to the project's code and resources.
- Regular updates and commits will be made to ensure transparency and provide visibility into the progress of the project.
- On-Chain Contributor Tokens via the Andamio Platform:
- The Andamio platform, integrated with Cardano's blockchain, generates contributor tokens that record student progress throughout the CPBL program.
- These on-chain tokens serve as tangible evidence of students' achievements and contributions.
- By leveraging blockchain technology, we ensure the immutability and transparency of student progress, further enhancing the trust and reliability of the CPBL program.
- Live Coding Sessions:
- We will conduct regular live coding sessions, where students can engage with instructors and peers in real-time.
- These sessions will provide an interactive learning experience, allowing participants to ask questions, share insights, and collaborate on solving problems.
- Live coding sessions will be recorded and made available for future reference and wider accessibility.
- Recordings Shared via YouTube:
- To reach a broader audience, we will share recordings of live coding sessions, tutorials, and key insights on our dedicated YouTube channel.
- These recordings will serve as valuable resources for individuals who are unable to attend live sessions or wish to revisit specific topics.
- Progress Reports Shared via Project Catalyst Town Halls and Website:
- We will regularly present progress reports and updates during Project Catalyst Town Halls, providing a platform to engage with the community and gather feedback.
- These reports will highlight the milestones achieved, student contributions, and the overall impact of the CPBL program.
- We will also share detailed progress updates on the Project Catalyst website, ensuring that the wider Cardano community and stakeholders can stay informed about the project's outcomes.
Using the results CPBL project we'll do further research and development activities, such as:
- The results and insights generated from the CPBL project will form a valuable foundation for future research and development activities.
- We will analyze the data collected, evaluate the effectiveness of the CPBL program, and identify areas for improvement and refinement.
- The findings will guide us in enhancing the Andamio platform, fine-tuning the CPBL curriculum, and exploring new opportunities for leveraging Project Catalyst's tech stack.
- We will actively engage with the Project Catalyst and Cardano community, governance and politics researchers, and project-related industry experts to share our learnings, collaborate on further advancements, and contribute to the continuous growth and evolution of the Project Catalyst and Cardano ecosystem.