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What are NFTs, and What Role Can They Play in K–12?

As the popularity of NFTs continues to rise, educators and schools consider how digital property fits into the classroom and beyond.

Erin Brereton

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Erin Brereton has written about technology, business and other topics for more than 50 magazines, newspapers and online publications.

Nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, have mainly gained popularity with digital artists because they can sell unique versions of their work via blockchain, which keeps a public record of ownership. The total value of digital art, audio and other NFT sales this year is likely to eclipse 2021’s $40 billion.

NFTs aren’t in routine use in most K–12 environments today, but some educators are exploring applications for the tokens.

“There is a fast-growing interest in it,” says Michael Cohen, director of innovation for Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach, Fla. “Our students are fully engaged with Web3 and NFT technology; they need us to know about it and bring this into learning.”

Cohen, a 2021 EdTech Influencer who is also known as “The Tech Rabbi,” recently co-founded the Ed3 Educators NFT Project. The project showcases some NFTs that serve as resources for teachers, including a microcourse that explores Web3, the next iteration of internet development.

Applications for NFTs in education range from distributing student- produced animation to NFT textbooks, like those from educational publisher Pearson. The following are some of the ways K–12 schools are utilizing NFTs.

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K–12 Schools Can Use NFTs to Store Educator and Student Records

One aspect of the blockchain that educators are particularly excited about is the decentralized ledger. This feature could allow schools to log educator credentials or share students’ cumulative achievements.

The data might also help teachers tailor their instruction and allow students to identify areas to work on, says Beau Brannan, a visiting humanities professor at Pepperdine University who has researched and lectured on NFTs in education.

Schools Can Use NFTs to Boost Student Engagement

Some tech startups, Brannan says, are working on creating engagement-oriented systems to allow educators to issue NFT badges when students finish assignments or gain new experiences.

The K12 Crypto platform, founded by former Los Angeles Unified School District Principal Amen Rahh, rewards students for meeting academic goals.

EXPLORE: Learn why gamification is trending in K–12.

Rahh says the soon-to-be launched system encourages students to work on attendance, academics and other goals while teaching them key emerging tech and finance concepts.

“If we want to prepare our students for the workforce, we have to understand how the future of our economy works,” he says.

Schools Can Use NFTs to Raise Funds and Support the Arts

Schools can also produce digital projects such as yearbooks and offer them for sale on a blockchain, Cohen says. However, he is particularly enthused about potential art-related NFT uses.

“You could get an NFT that was created by our students that could be printed, framed and showcased in your business, on your website, on your social platform,” he says.

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What Technology Do Schools Need to Get Started with NFTs?

Experts say schools shouldn’t have to add significant hardware to use NFTs.

K12 Crypto founder and CEO Amen Rahh says users can access the platform on a Google Chromebook. Michael Cohen, co-founder of the Ed3 Educators NFT project, estimates 75 percent of his Web3-related time is spent on his phone.

“Art programs need to make use of Adobe Creative Cloud, because Illustrator and Photoshop are really the main way a lot of these highly sophisticated NFTs are being created,” Cohen says. “But you could create an NFT with a browser-based design tool.”

The structure of NFTs might actually help reduce digital equity challenges, since connectivity needs for some uses, such as tracking academic achievements, aren’t excessive, says Beau Brannan, a visiting humanities professor at Pepperdine University who’s written and lectured about NFTs.

“The beautiful thing is, when students come on campus, you can help them set up a wallet there,” Brannan says. “Once it’s set up, they can receive tokens. As long as the school that’s issuing these things has an internet connection, the student doesn’t have to.”

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