Building the Future, One Blockchain at a Time

In a unique approach to learning about cryptocurrency, math teacher Kelly Wosleger challenged her Financial Algebra class to a hands-on activity called “Secure the Blockchain”. Developed by Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), this game provided students with an interactive introduction to blockchain technology, the backbone of all cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Blockchain allows for secure and transparent transaction verification, ensuring that data is not tampered with.

The game simulated the role of miners on a blockchain network. Miners are responsible for verifying transactions and adding them to the blockchain by solving complex cryptographic puzzles. Students worked in teams to validate transactions, compute unique "hashes" (digital fingerprints), and ensure each block in the chain was legitimate. They also learned the concept of the genesis block, the first block in a blockchain, which serves as the foundation for all subsequent blocks.

The twist in the game came when Wosleger tampered with one of the blocks by replacing a legitimate transaction with a fraudulent one. This caused the hash for that block to change, impacting not only the altered block but all subsequent blocks. Students had to identify which block contained the fraudulent transaction by comparing the hashes and verifying the entire chain’s integrity. The team that identified the tampered transaction first earned fictional cryptocurrency money, which could be redeemed for classroom prizes.
The game brought to life how the blockchain makes it nearly impossible to alter a transaction without affecting the entire chain. It showed the difficulty of committing fraud on a blockchain network, as changing one block affects all subsequent blocks, making tampering easily detectable.

Wosleger’s creative approach to an incredibly complex and relevant topic provided students a deeper understanding of blockchain technology, the role of miners and the complexities of ensuring transaction integrity in the cryptocurrency world. These students are putting into action concepts that they will likely engage with after they graduate, in a world increasingly influenced by digital currencies.

Next up the class will explore the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining. Mining, which requires immense computational power, consumes large amounts of energy, which can be a source of discussion for its impact in a range of ways.