Incentives Mechanisms

The course market is bifurcated into two categories: professional courses (e.g., technology, bachelor's degree, etc.) and free courses. Free courses, characterized by their lack of prerequisites, are open for anyone to enroll. However, the digital course market, particularly in the realm of free courses, displays a hoarding effect that diverges from the intended educational purpose. This tendency is marked by the behavior of acquiring a course but not completing it.

This behavior may be influenced by various individual factors. However, three key factors can be identified as contributors to this attitude:

• Incentives: These incentives encompass curiosity, a genuine interest in the subject matter, a drive for professional development, financial growth, personal improvement, among others.

• Reward Mechanism: The most prevalent rewards include obtaining a course completion certificate and the satisfaction of adding the course to a personal collection, which can be referred to at any point in the future.

• Study and Attendance Habits: Regular engagement with daily or frequent study sessions and class attendance forms another significant factor influencing this behavior.

Proof-of-Study

The Proof-of-Study concept arises as a means to harmonize the factors influencing course completion behavior. It ensures that reward mechanisms align with incentives, thereby fostering a consistent habit over time. Consequently, students not only receive the traditional course completion certificate but also a financial reward in the form of tokens. In a certain sense, this system resembles a scholarship.

A quarter of the total tokens is allocated as a fund to finance the Proof-of-Study. By integrating financial incentives with educational achievements, Proof-of-Study aims to mitigate the hoarding effect and encourage genuine engagement and completion of courses.

Journal

The journal is a feature designed to support and enhance free education by encouraging the documentation, refinement, and dissemination of new understandings through interpersonal interactions. It allows users to publish articles, participate in interactive forums, and modify content collaboratively, similar to the processes on code repositories like GitHub. By providing a space for intellectual production and community building around acquired knowledge, the journal aims to foster a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

The journal addresses the problem of lack of incentives in the educational realm by providing both financial and intellectual rewards for documenting and sharing knowledge. Here's how it is associated with this issue:

• Financial Incentives: The journal incorporates a proof-of-study supplement, which offers financial rewards based on the relevance and impact of the documents created. This encourages individuals to actively engage in documenting their learning and sharing it with others, providing a tangible incentive to complete and contribute educational content.

• Intellectual Rewards: By fostering a collaborative environment where users can publish articles and interact with peers and experts through forums, the journal motivates individuals to deepen their understanding and enhance their communication skills. This intellectual engagement is rewarding in itself, as it allows for continuous learning and growth.

• Monetization Opportunities: The platform's advertising program offers another layer of financial incentive by allowing users to monetize their content. This not only provides a financial benefit but also encourages high-quality content creation, as more valuable and engaging content is likely to attract more attention and revenue.

• Community and Recognition: The interactive and collaborative nature of the journal builds a sense of community and recognition. Users can receive feedback, make modifications, and improve their work, gaining recognition from their peers and contributing to the collective knowledge base.