edX, a global online learning platform, and the Web3 Foundation have jointly launched an online foundational course in blockchain technology and Polkadot. Web3x will include a four-part series covering blockchain basics, Substrate software development kit, and Rust programming languages. 

Web3x only offers two courses at the time of publication: "Introduction to blockchains and Web3" and "Introduction to Polkadot." In the first course, blockchains, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Web3 are explained in terms of their history and key terminology. The second course is provided with the key terminology behind Polkadot (DOT) - shared security, interoperability, cryptography, consensus, and networking. 

Bertrand Perez, CEO of Web3 Foundation, spoke about edX's expertise in online learning during the launch of the joint initiative: 

“Part of this ongoing process is to launch partnerships with established educators, and we are confident that edX has the right attributes to form a valuable long-term collaboration with Web3 Foundation.” 

The Web3 Foundation was established by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood in 2017 and supports over 300 projects in over 50 countries. In addition to its work as a research group, it has a focus on cryptography, networking, and decentralized algorithms. 

The specific courses offered are not surprising - Polkadot, a layer-0 blockchain network, is the flagship protocol for Web3 Foundation. Both courses start on October 20 and can be accessed for free. 

Study.com found that 64% of parents and 67% of college graduates support incorporating cryptocurrencies into mandatory education. However, only 40% of respondents thought blockchains, metaverses, and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) should be included in the curriculum.