First UK school to offer lessons in Bitcoin

The teacher who introduced the first course in cryptocurrency explains its wide reaching benefits for pupils and why more schools should offer lessons in Bitcoin 

 

Why did I never learn about money at school? We spend so much of our adult life working for money, thinking about how we will spend it, and trying to save it, that it strikes me as a disservice that many of us left school without even a cursory introduction to the qualities of money. 

At Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, a forward-thinking school in Kent, it is our contention that the most important technology that our students should be learning about in the 21st century is money itself. What is money? What is the history of money? How is money created? Who controls money today? Given that money is the tool that humanity uses to cooperate and coordinate our collective actions, it’s vital that we incorporate these questions into our stident’s education. 

Over a number of years we have developed and adapted our curriculum to teach our students all about money. From interest rates, mortgages, credit cards and personal budgets to central banking and exchange rates. In October 2022, however, we became the first school in Europe to teach a 10 week after-school diploma about Bitcoin. We have now graduated 50 students and have three teachers giving up their free time to teach about Bitcoin after school. 

Our students have used Bitcoin to send computers to children in Kenya, provide hot meals to displaced children in Gaza and, in 2025, our school will collaborate with Rolls-Royce engineers to demonstrate how Bitcoin can be used to balance nuclear energy-grids and drive down the cost of electricity for everyone.

What is the My First Bitcoin Diploma?

The My First Bitcoin Diploma is a comprehensive program designed to introduce students in Years 9-13 to Bitcoin. It consists of 10 in-person classes, each lasting around 1 hour, with hands-on activities, class discussion, and applied learning. The diploma is delivered weekly and is supported by a printed Student Workbook which the students are encouraged to read and complete at home and further online resources, including videos, presentations, podcasts, e-books, quizzes and PDFs. In total students spend over 50 hours learning about the technology.

My First Bitcoin Diploma offers a unique opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of the world and its complexities. By exploring the concept of money and Bitcoin, students develop critical thinking skills, financial literacy, and a competitive advantage in an increasingly interconnected world. Parents can rest assured that this program is providing their child with a valuable foundation for success in the years to come.

What do lessons in Bitcoin include? 

One of the unique aspects of the My First Bitcoin Diploma is its multidisciplinary approach. By exploring the concept of money and Bitcoin, the course touches on various academic disciplines, including:

History: Understanding the evolution of money and its impact on societies.

Economics: Analysing the properties of money and its role in human action.

Anthropology: Examining the cultural and psychological significance of money.

Computer Science: Delving into the technical aspects of Bitcoin and its underlying technology, especially public/private key cryptography and the Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism that makes Bitcoin unique.

Physics: Understanding the energy consumption of Bitcoin mining.

Mathematics: Exploring the mathematical concepts that underlie Bitcoin's functionality including the exponential function and Very Large Numbers.

Philosophy and Ethics: Evaluating the implications of Bitcoin on our world, including themes of energy and the environment, global wealth distribution, privacy, creativity and self-actualisation.

Benefits to students of learning about Bitcoin

So, why do our students choose to participate in the My First Bitcoin Diploma and what do they gain? Here are just a few reasons:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving: The course encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential for success in an increasingly complex world.
• Protection from scams: Our students are much more informed on how to recognise and avoid cryptocurrency scams and they know how to secure their bitcoin so that it cannot be stolen from them.
• Competitive advantage: In a world where Bitcoin is becoming increasingly prominent, our students have gained an understanding of the underlying technology and its potential applications. They are already contributing to this emerging technology and are participating in a global network of bitcoin students.
• Forward Thinking: As I mentioned earlier, the world is changing rapidly, and money is a key coordinator of human action. By understanding the principles of Bitcoin and its implications, our students are much better prepared to thrive and adapt to a world where traditional debt-based financial systems will be disrupted.
• Traditional Values: The study of Bitcoin also teaches essential values such as excellence, honesty, courage, humility, creativity and the importance of hard-work. 

How can your child's school offer a Bitcoin cryptocurrency course? 

Interested in learning more about the My First Bitcoin Diploma or would like your child’s school to offer the Diploma as an after-school club? Wilmington Grammar School for Boys is passionate about helping more schools to deliver this curriculum so that the next generation is equipped to thrive in the 21st century.

Contact: Huxley Darwin ([email protected])

Huxley is a Geography teacher and Head of Year 11 at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. He is currently collaborating with My First Bitcoin, a global network of teachers passionately advocating for Bitcoin in their communities and driving bottom-up adoption of this revolutionary technology. 

What is Bitcoin? 

Bitcoin is a digital payment system and currency that operates with no involvement of banks, government authorities or financial institutions. It was created by a person or group, going by the username Satoshi Nakamoto, in 2009. One bitcoin is divisible to eight decimal places (100 millionths of one bitcoin), and this smallest unit is referred to as a satoshi.