Learning Smart Contracts from Scratch in Spanish - introduction to cardano programming Online Course

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Guido Zatloukal

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

45441

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

3

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

Yes

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will create an online introductory programming course for beginners, bridging the gap to working with blockchain technology effectively.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

no

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

All course recordings and teaching materials will be available to the Cardano community by being published on the course website. Also complementary material in the social networks.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Introducing students to concepts and fundamentals of decentralized applications in the context of Web 3, the value-based internet. The proposed learning space aims to train profiles in technologies related to Blockchain infrastructure and the new era of the internet "Web3," seeking to strengthen the necessary skills to develop software components using decentralized technologies. The introduction of Blockchain poses a technological revolution that directly impacts organizational, economic, and political changes.

The demand for programmers with or without academic training who possess knowledge of "Smart Contracts" in the market is extensive and expected to increase in the future. Participants in this course will acquire the basic knowledge to develop and deploy "Smart Contracts" on a Blockchain network. In order to promote the development of skills acquired in Computer Science education, such as problem-solving, decomposition, algorithm design, logical skills, abstraction, creativity, attention, and concentration, this workshop will allow the use of tools in a simple and intuitive way to prepare for this technological revolution. It will facilitate introducing and approaching smart contract programming, which is increasingly of interest to governments, industries, and academia.

Themes:

computational thinking, creativity, problem-solving, abstraction, design patterns, iteration, testing, smart contract programming, deployment, blockchain.

Objectives:

General objectives:

Introduce concepts for designing and developing smart contracts and blockchain.

Specific objectives:

Study the fundamentals of the programming language.

Develop smart contracts for application deployment on Blockchain.

Learn to deploy smart contracts for different use cases.

Utilize a development environment.

Contents:

Unit 1: Introduction to Computational Thinking. Concept of Computational Thinking, Understanding systemic thinking. What is Thinking? Bionics communication. Brain logic. Neurocommunication. Abstract thinking. Utilities. What is an Algorithm? How to construct it. The importance of understanding a Flowchart. Control structures for everyday use.

Unit 2: Fundamental Concepts of Blockchain. Transactions. Validation. Block Mining. Blockchain Architecture. Ecosystem. Types of Blockchains. Public. Private. Permissioned. Hybrid. Wallets. Metamask.

Unit 3. Cardano Infrastructure. Cardano Network. Blockchain networks. History and development. Fundamental Concepts. Functioning.

Unit 4. Smart Contracts. Definition. Structure of a smart contract. Life cycle. How a Smart Contract works. Tokens.

Unit 5. Introduction to Aiken. What is Aiken. Structure of a contract in Aiken. Primitive data. State variables and global variables. Constants. Immutability. Control structures. Functions. Constructor. Inheritance. Interface. Payable. Memory, storage, and call data. Error handling. Vulnerability analysis and proposed improvements.

Unit 6. Development Environments and Deployment of Smart Contracts. How to deploy a smart contract. Frameworks. Practical examples.

Methodology:

The course will be conducted in an e-learning format, accessible remotely via Discord and Drive platforms. The course contents are organized into units, planned by weeks of teaching and study content publication. This allows easy access to content and organization of study time and topics. Each unit includes assigned pedagogical resources such as videos, articles, books, and reference publications guided by the teachers.

Class Hours:

Total class hours (in clock hours): 30

Teaching Frequency: Proposed Days and Hours of Execution: Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm. Consultations on Saturdays from 11 am to 12 pm.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

We are expanding the number of future developers on the Cardano blockchain by offering an online course that will be the first step for many developers of the future in Spanish.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our ability to successfully execute this project with great confidence and responsibility is due to the extensive experience and solid professional backgrounds of our team members and the institutions backing us. Moreover, our courses will be taught by university professors with a distinguished track record in managing and implementing successful initiatives aimed at fostering communities and blockchain-focused projects

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Organization and planning (1 month)

Objective:

Preparation of the study plan, coordination of the work plan with the designated teachers and tutors.

Acceptance:

The study plan is presented along with the teaching material to be used in classes.

Communication of the course and opening of registration (Month 2)

Objective: 

Start by registering for the introductory smart contract programming course

Acceptance:

Registration website operational. Promotion campaigns in RRSS running.

Completion of the online course (Month 3)

Objective: 

Begin teaching the introductory online course to smart contract programming.

Acceptance:

Online course with live classes taught with a total duration of 30 hours of classes. Class recordings available.

30-hour online course completed and published.

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

Guido Zatloukal : Project Lead -

Guido Zatloukal is an experienced web developer with a 10-year track record in the tech industry. He was a key player in the implementation of the “NAC” an Argentine Digital Literacy project sponsored by the national government. Additionally, he is the co-founder and president of the Blockchain Argentina Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and widespread usage of blockchain technology in the country.

Maximiliano RIos: academic manager

Currently, he works in the university extension department of UTN (National Technological University of Argentina), one of the most prestigious universities in the country in technological environments. In 2023 organized two hackathons, one in April at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and another in November as part of LABITCONF 2023 (the most important blockchain event in Latin America). LABITCONF saw the participation of more than 35 teams of entrepreneurs and developers.

Alex Barros : General Project Manager

Co-Founder and Operations Director of the Argentine Blockchain Foundation, with ample experience in the field of communications/ marketing consulting, and an academic background in Political Science, a field that he studied at the University of Buenos Aires, bringing several diverse skill sets to the table that make him valuable to projects such as this, that requiere excellence in many different fields in order to succeed.

Victoria Belohlawek : Press and Communications Manager 

Journalist, plays a crucial role at the Blockchain Argentina Foundation as its press director . With a notable background in promoting cultural events and projects, she has brought her experience to the world of blockchain technology, boosting the visibility and impact of the foundation. Her unique combination of communication skills and passion for innovation makes her an invaluable asset to the organization and the sector as a whole.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Coordination and management fees: $1500 x3 months

Teachers and tutors fees: $1100 x4 $4400 x3 months

Marketing and promotion: $600

Web designer for the registration and distribution platform of the courses: $1200

Total: $19500 - 45441 ADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Investing in this project presents substantial value to the Cardano ecosystem due to several key factors: Targeted Development: Our programming course is aimed at Spanish-speaking students. A community that shows a growing interest in blockchain technology but does not have a large amount of programming study material in its language.