Please describe your proposed solution.

Perception of the Problem & Approach:

Our proposed solution addresses the critical need for interactive education and practical examples of smart contract development using AIKEN language and Atala PRISM for decentralized identity. We recognize that the potential of AIKEN and PRISM in revolutionizing decentralized governance and reputation systems remains largely untapped due to a lack of comprehensive educational resources. We aim to fill this gap.

Engagement and Impact:

Our solution comprises two key components:

1. Interactive Course: We will create "<u>StudentReader.io 2.0 AIKEN Edition: Smart Contracts 101 with PRISM Integration</u>". This course, targeted at developers interested in decentralized technology, will cover the principles of smart contract development, giving learners hands-on experience.
2. Open-Source Code Examples & Live Demonstration: We will develop open-source code examples and a live demonstration through our student scholarship program. This real-world application of the course content will allow learners to apply their knowledge and see its impact.

Unique Aspects and Beneficiaries:

Our unique solution integrates theory and practice and provides open-source resources for the Cardano community. Direct beneficiaries will be course participants, while the Cardano community at large will benefit from the increased understanding and deployment of identity-aware smart contracts.

Importance to Cardano:

This project is critical for Cardano as it supports the development of a skilled and knowledgeable community, driving innovation, adoption, and commercial viability. By equipping community members with necessary skills and resources, we are enabling the creation of more complex applications on the Cardano blockchain, propelling Cardano's vision forward.

Deliverables:

1. Comprehensive Smart Contracts Course Reader: A structured and accessible content to enhance knowledge of smart contract development using AIKEN.
2. Integration with an Educational Program: The course reader will be integrated into an established educational program, such as the Atala Prism Pioneer Program, to reach a wider audience.
3. Funding Scholarships through vNFT Sales: A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the course reader will be allocated to a dedicated scholarship program, promoting inclusivity and addressing funding challenges.

By implementing this solution, we aim to empower individuals, promote education and awareness, and simplify the process of learning and implementing smart contracts, fostering the growth of the smart contract ecosystem on blockchains.

How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

Our proposed solution addresses the challenge by creating an essential bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application of AIKEN smart contract programming and PRISM integration for decentralized identity. Our initiative tackles the core issue of lack of hands-on, open-source education and working examples and significantly contributes to the Cardano ecosystem in the following ways:

1. Educational Empowerment: Our inclusive course empowers participants with the requisite knowledge and skills to leverage AIKEN and PRISM. This helps foster a robust community of adept developers, instrumental in driving Cardano's innovative capabilities.
2. Provision of Open-Source Code: We provide open-source code examples that serve as an educational resource. This aligns with Cardano's ethos of collaborative learning and democratizing access to technology.
3. Real-World Application: We showcase the utility of AIKEN and PRISM through a scholarship program. This demonstration promotes the broad possibilities of Cardano's technology.
4. Community Growth and Engagement: Our course, open-source code, and scholarship program will attract diverse individuals to the Cardano ecosystem, enhancing its growth and vibrancy.

In terms of measurable impact, we aim for at least 500 students to complete our course within the first year. These students will form the backbone of a new generation of Cardano developers, strengthening the ecosystem. Our scholarship program, providing at least 100 scholarships in its first year, will offer opportunities to underrepresented individuals, fostering diversity and inclusion in the Cardano community. These measures will not only increase the user base but also lead to an increase in Cardano transactions as more smart contracts are developed and deployed.

In summary, this project will strengthen the Cardano ecosystem, fostering innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a well-equipped community to advance Cardano's mission of democratizing access to secure, scalable, and transparent financial services.

How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

The success of our project will be gauged through a blend of quantitative and qualitative metrics, capturing the benefits our initiative brings to the Cardano ecosystem:

1. Course Completion Rate: The number of participants who complete the course will serve as an immediate measure of our project's success. Our goal is for at least 500 students to complete the course in the first year, illustrating the effectiveness of our educational initiative.
2. Scholarship Awards: The number of scholarships awarded will be another crucial metric. We aim to award at least 100 scholarships in the first year of operation, signifying the real-world applicability of the AIKEN/PRISM technology demonstrated in our course.
3. Community Feedback: We will also gather and assess feedback from participants and the wider Cardano community, including course reviews, open-source code feedback, and experiences shared by scholarship recipients. Positive feedback will be a key indicator of satisfaction with our educational initiative and its real-world applicability.
4. Smart Contract and DApp Creation: As a measure of the project's long-term impact, we will track the number of DApps and smart contracts developed and deployed by course graduates. An increase in this number over time will signify a tangible growth in the Cardano ecosystem and reflect the successful upskilling of community members.

Our project is designed to strengthen the developer community and promote innovation within the Cardano ecosystem. Equipping individuals with the necessary skills and resources to leverage AIKEN and PRISM technologies, we anticipate a rise in the number and quality of DApps and smart contracts on the Cardano platform, enhancing Cardano’s productivity, growth, and position as a leading blockchain ecosystem.

Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

Project Documentation: We will compile in-depth project reports detailing our process, milestones, challenges, accomplishments, and key learnings. These reports will be publicly accessible and could act as a useful resource for other individuals or groups interested in similar initiatives.

Community Events: We intend to host community events, twitter spaces, and conferences to exhibit our project's outcomes and learnings. These platforms will allow us to introduce the Smart Contracts Course Reader, discuss insights from the project, and engage with the community through discussions and Q&A sessions.

Digital Platforms: We will leverage digital platforms such as blogs, social media, and online forums to share our progress, achievements, and insights from the project. This could include tutorials, walkthroughs, thought pieces, and other types of content that would add value to the community.

Collaborative Networks: We aim to collaborate with educational institutions, blockchain communities, and relevant organizations to share our project's results. This could involve content distribution partnerships, co-hosting events, and cross-promoting educational resources. By leveraging existing networks, we can reach a wider audience and maximize our project's impact.

Public Presentations: We will seek opportunities to present our project at relevant conferences, workshops, or industry events. Sharing our experiences and insights at these platforms will not only inspire others but also contribute to the broader discourse on Web3 education.

Further Research and Development: The results and insights generated from this project will form the foundation for future research and development activities. We will continue to refine our course material, develop more advanced courses, and explore new ways to promote education in the blockchain sector.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our project's capability to deliver high levels of trust and accountability is underpinned by the profound experience and achievements of our team, led by Laura Brugioni and technically supported by Tony Rose.

1. Project Leadership: Laura Brugioni, the founder of Student Reader, is at the helm of our project. With two decades of experience in public education, Laura has demonstrated exceptional capability to create and manage initiatives in the Cardano Ecosystem. She successfully deployed the Atala PRISM Foundations of Decentralized Identity NFT Book, established a scholarship treasury, and formed partnerships with key players within the Cardano ecosystem. Laura's track record of delivering on commitments and effectively managing resources is a strong testament to our ability to execute this project with high levels of trust and accountability.
2. Technical Expertise and Advisory: Tony Rose, a seasoned expert in the blockchain space and a pivotal figure in the Cardano community, is our technical advisor. Tony’s diverse experience includes driving product commercialization, leading the architecture and deployment of Apple Pay in the US, and heading product development for Atala PRISM at IOHK. Tony's commitment to the project ensures we have the technical guidance and expertise to realize our objectives.
3. Collaborative Synergy: Laura's proven leadership skills and Tony's technical prowess create a powerful synergy. Laura’s familiarity with Cardano's ecosystem and educational programs, coupled with Tony's deep understanding of blockchain technology and its potential applications, perfectly position us to implement the project successfully.

Our team's existing capabilities, experiences, and successful track records provide robust evidence of our ability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability. We are best suited to execute this project as we combine a solid grounding in Cardano ecosystem dynamics, technical acumen, and a profound commitment to enhancing Cardano's educational offerings and community engagement.

What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

The main goals for our project are:

1. Develop a Comprehensive Course: The primary objective is to create a detailed and accessible educational program on AIKEN and PRISM technologies. This course will not only cover the theoretical aspects but also provide ample hands-on experience with real-world deployment examples.
2. Validation: Successful creation of the course material and receiving positive feedback from an initial group of students and peer reviewers would validate the feasibility of this goal.
3. Foster Educational Empowerment: Through our course, we aim to educate at least 500 students in the first year about the integration of AIKEN smart contracts and PRISM decentralized identity.
4. Validation: The number of students enrolled and successfully completing the course will serve as a quantifiable measure of success. The quality of projects or use-cases developed by these students can serve as a qualitative measure.
5. Create Open-Source Code Examples: We will develop open-source code examples to be used by the Cardano community. We aim to have these resources downloaded and used by over a hundred community members within the first six months.
6. Validation: The number of downloads, forks and pull requests and usage of our code by the community would be a clear, quantifiable measure. Feedback from users on the clarity and usefulness of our code can serve as a qualitative measure.
7. Implement a Scholarship Program: We plan to fund and award at least 100 scholarships within the first year of operation, demonstrating the practical utility of AIKEN and PRISM technologies.
8. Validation: The number of scholarships awarded and their subsequent impact on recipients' learning and development journey would be a measure of this goal.

The project is primarily educational but involves technical aspects, particularly in developing open-source code examples and integrating AIKEN and PRISM in a real-world scholarship program. We plan to use agile development methodologies, iterating on feedback from the community and students. Tony Rose, with his deep experience in product development and the Cardano ecosystem, will guide the technical implementation, ensuring we adhere to best practices and deliver valuable resources.

Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Phase One - Project Initiation and Content Development (Months 1-3):

• Milestones: Initial planning, content gathering, and course structure development.
• Tasks: Conduct discussions with partners, gather content for the Smart Contracts Course reader, design online course structure, continue content development, explore opportunities for integration with educational programs.
• Success Criteria: Completion of the initial planning and initiation of content development. Successful exploration of integration opportunities.

Phase Two - Course Development and Integration (Months 4-6):

• Milestones: Finalization of content, course development, and integration with LMS.
• Tasks: Continue and finalize content development, develop the interactive and engaging elements of the course, finalize integration with educational programs, conduct internal reviews and testing.
• Success Criteria: Completed course content, functioning online course with interactive elements, successful integration with the LMS.

Phase Three - Launch and Promotion (Months 7-9):

• Milestones: Minting the vNFT, beta testing, course promotion, identification of the student cohort.
• Tasks: Mint the vNFT, integrate the course into the LMS for beta testing, promote the course through marketing campaigns, collect user feedback, identify the student cohort.
• Success Criteria: Successful minting of vNFT, effective promotional campaigns resulting in student engagement, identified student cohort.

Phase Four - Evaluation and Reporting (Months 10-12):

• Milestones: Course evaluation, scholarship disbursement, and project reporting.
• Tasks: Evaluate course content and completion rate, disburse scholarships, continue marketing vNFT, prepare project reports, share project results with the community.
• Success Criteria: Positive course evaluations, successful disbursement of scholarships, comprehensive project reports detailing outcomes and lessons learned.

This phased approach provides a clear and manageable path towards project completion. Each phase is designed with distinct, achievable milestones and tasks, and clear success criteria. As with any project plan, flexibility is essential, and adjustments may be needed based on available resources and changing circumstances.

Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Phase One - Project Initiation and Content Development (Months 1-3):

• Deliverables: Comprehensive project plan, initial drafts of the Smart Contracts Course reader content, outline of the online course structure.
• Outputs: Meeting minutes and agreements with partners, drafts of content, course structure layout.
• Intended Outcomes: Clarity on project direction, alignment of objectives across the team, initiation of content creation, groundwork for the online course design.
• Tracking Measures: Track the completion of the project plan, drafts, and course structure outline.

Phase Two - Course Development and Integration (Months 4-6):

• Deliverables: Final Smart Contracts Course reader, online course with interactive elements, integration with LMS of Atala Prism Pioneer Program or similar educational programs.
• Outputs: Final content for course reader, completed online course structure, test runs on integrated LMS.
• Intended Outcomes: Ready-to-launch course content and structure, operational online course, availability of course on LMS.
• Tracking Measures: Monitor the finalization of content, development progress of online course, successful LMS integration.

Phase Three - Launch and Promotion (Months 7-9):

• Deliverables: Minted vNFT, promotional campaigns, user feedback collection, identified student cohort.
• Outputs: Minted vNFT, marketing materials and campaign data, feedback reports, list of identified students.
• Intended Outcomes: Availability of vNFTs, increased awareness and engagement with the course, collection of user opinions for improvement, clarity on the participant list for the course.
• Tracking Measures: Track successful minting of vNFT, measure campaign reach and engagement, compile feedback, confirm the student cohort.

Phase Four - Evaluation and Reporting (Months 10-12):

• Deliverables: Course evaluation reports, issued student credentials and vNFT airdrops, project reports and documentation.
• Outputs: Course completion and satisfaction data, credentials and vNFTs for students, comprehensive project reports.
• Intended Outcomes: Feedback on the course for further improvement, recognition for students, insights into project success and areas for development in future initiatives.
• Tracking Measures: Monitor course completion rates, track the issuance of credentials and vNFTs, and compile comprehensive project reports.

These deliverables, outputs, and outcomes will ensure that the project is progressing as expected, while providing clear evidence of achievement at each milestone. They also set a solid foundation for continuous improvement and future development.

Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Personnel Costs:

• Technical Writer: $7,500 or 26,361.41 ADA
• Course Content Creator: $7,500 or 26,361.41 ADA
• Editor Fee: $5,000 or 17,745.46 ADA
• Technical Support: $10,000 or 35,148.85 ADA
• StudentReader Support: $10,000 or 35,148.85 ADA

Personnel Total: $40,000 or 141,065.98 ADA

Operational Costs:

• Technical Fees (includes software licenses, cloud services, etc.): $10,000 or 35,148.85 ADA
• NFT Minting (1,000 vNFT's): $1,150 or 4,039.59 ADA
• Credentials Issuance: $1,000 or 3,524.56 ADA

Operational Total: $12,150 or 42,713 ADA

Marketing and Community Engagement:

• Marketing/Community Outreach: $5,000 or 17,745.46 ADA
• Conference Attendance: $2,000 or 7,049.39 ADA

Marketing Total: $7,000 or 24,794.85 ADA

Travel and Logistics:

• Travel Expense: $4,000 or 14,198.83 ADA

Travel Total: $4,000 or 14,198.83 ADA

Contingency Fund:

(10% of the total budget for unforeseen costs.)

• Contingency Fund: $6,365 or 22,340.06 ADA

Grand Total in USD: $69,515

Grand Total in ADA: 245,112.00

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Laura Brugioni - Project Leader

Laura Brugioni, founder of StudentReader.io, is an experienced education professional with nearly 20 years of expertise in managing auxiliary services on college campuses. She has an extensive background in overseeing the operations of campus bookstores and publishing printshops.

Laura has actively collaborated with Atala Prism and their Pioneer Program, playing a pivotal role in publishing and minting the vNFT Foundations of Decentralized Identity. This vNFT supports the Learner-to-Earner scholarship program, a collaboration with Adanian Labs and the Power Learn Project, aimed at funding scholarships for individuals aspiring to delve into Web3 technology.

Laura's strategic partnerships with key Cardano community contributors such as Atala Prism, Book.io, NMKR, Proof Space, Summon Platform, Marlowe, and Snapbrillia demonstrate her wide network within the Cardano community and her ability to foster collaborations and deliver successful outcomes. With a business-oriented approach and a passion for driving education and innovation in the blockchain industry, Laura will lead this project, overseeing all aspects and ensuring the project stays on track and within budget.

Tony Rose - Advisor and Technical Support

Tony brings his technical expertise to the project. He has a strong background in software development and blockchain technology, making him well-suited to provide technical support for the development of the Smart Contracts Course and related activities. He will also act as an advisor, providing guidance based on his extensive experience in the field. Tony's previous work can be seen at (Tony's Linked In) (Tony's AI Avatar, DJ Squircle's GitHub).

Content Creator - To Be Recruited

We are in the process of recruiting a Content Creator who will be responsible for developing the educational content for the Smart Contracts Course. This individual should have a deep understanding of Smart Contracts and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into easy-to-understand educational materials. They should also have prior experience in course creation and educational content development.

Technical Writer - To Be Recruited

We are also looking to hire a Technical Writer who can work closely with the Content Creator to refine the course content, ensuring it's clear, accurate, and effectively communicates the learning objectives. This person should have a strong background in technical writing, preferably within the blockchain technology domain.

Marketing Specialist - To Be Recruited

A Marketing Specialist will be needed to promote the course and engage with the community. This individual should have experience in digital marketing and community engagement, ideally within the tech or education sectors.

How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

This proposal represents significant value for money for the Cardano ecosystem. It is an investment into the education and empowerment of future developers, fostering greater understanding and application of smart contract and Web3 technologies.

The budget allocated for this project has been carefully considered to align with industry standards and average freelance rates, ensuring we are able to attract and retain high-quality talent. For example, the costs related to hiring a technical writer and course content creator are justified as these roles are pivotal in developing comprehensive, accessible, and engaging content that simplifies complex technological concepts. We've based these costs on average rates within the tech and education industries, ensuring they are both fair and competitive.

Moreover, the proposed project will make optimal use of existing resources and expertise from Aiken creators, Adanian Labs, PLP, and StudentReader.io, effectively streamlining costs. By integrating these existing resources, we are leveraging established knowledge and infrastructure, thus ensuring that every ADA spent is used as efficiently as possible.

Importantly, the project is designed with accountability and continuous improvement in mind. Through clear, measurable success metrics, such as course reach, scholarship impact, and user feedback, we will monitor our progress and make necessary improvements.

The value of this project extends far beyond its immediate outcomes. By educating and empowering future developers, we're planting the seeds for continued innovation and growth within the Cardano ecosystem. This ripple effect will enhance the community's strength, broaden Cardano's reach, and potentially increase the value of ADA in the long run.

In essence, this project is not only a cost-efficient allocation of resources but also a strategic investment in the future of the Cardano ecosystem, ensuring its sustained growth and innovation.