# NCR Course Module 1
## Class 1 Lesson Plan
## Introduction to Blockchain and NEAR Protocol

[(Recording)](https://t.me/ResearchWG/129/4094)

>Register for the class [here](https://near.social/research-collective.near/widget/NCR.v1)

**Facilitator**: [Chloe](https://near.social/mob.near/widget/MyPage?accountId=chloe.near)
**Co-Facilitators** [Nedlar](https://near.social/mob.near/widget/ProfilePage?accountId=15870c8972a9fe6cdb7dfc2df835740108e8674cc170a091cd0ece0b9e4f6cfa) & [BGem](https://near.social/mob.near/widget/ProfilePage?accountId=bheegem.near)
**Guest Lecturer**: None
**Date**: February 28, 2024 (week 1)
**Time**:10am AST | 2pm UTC
**Duration**: 1 hour
**Platform**: [NCR Thread on Telegram](https://t.me/ResearchWG/181)

**Target Audience**:
- Enthusiasts keen on enhancing blockchain data skills.
- Researchers in blockchain applications.
- Data analysts seeking blockchain insights.
- Computer science students and academics.
- NEAR community members seeking technical knowledge.

**Learning Objective**: To introduce the participants to the NEAR Protocol, focusing on its advantages for researchers.

#### Pre-Reading Material

- **BOS Documentation Overview Section**: [BOS Documentation](https://docs.near.org/bos/overview)
- **NEAR Official Whitepaper**: [NEAR Whitepaper](https://near.org/files/white-paper-near-protocol.pdf)

#### Agenda

| Time | Topic | Activity | Resource |
|-----------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 0-5 mins | Introduction | Briefing on course outline and objectives. | [ResearchWG on Telegram](https://t.me/ResearchWG/181) |
| 5-10 mins | Why Blockchain? | Quick discussion on the utility of Blockchain. | [A Systematic Review of Blockchain](https://jfin-swufe.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40854-019-0147-z) |
| 10-20 mins| Why NEAR? | Discuss specific advantages of NEAR for research. | [NEAR Whitepaper](https://near.org/files/white-paper-near-protocol.pdf) / [Dapp Radar](https://dappradar.com/rankings) |
| 20-30 mins| BOS Profile Setup | Hands-on activity to set up BOS profile. | [Profile Editor](https://near.org/near/widget/ProfileEditor) |
| 30-40 mins| Create a Post on BOS | Practical exercise on making a post about NCR course. | [NEAR Posts](https://near.org/) |
| 40-50 mins| Set up a NEAR Social Short Link | Hands-on activity to create a NEAR Social short link. | [Component Details](https://near.org/near/widget/ComponentDetailsPage?src=mob.near/widget/MyPageEditor) |
| 50-55 mins| Q&A | Open floor for questions. | |
| 55-60 mins| Conclusion & Next Steps | Summary of the session and introduction to next lesson. | [Next Class - 2: Data Retrieval and Analysis](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/ncr-02) |

#### Activities Details

1. **Why Blockchain?**
- Facilitate a discussion to brainstorm the advantages and limitations of using blockchain technology in research.
- Optional deeper reading: [A Systematic Review of Blockchain Applications](https://research.tees.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/38645710/A_Systematic_Review_of_Blockchain_Applications.pdf)

2. **Why NEAR?**
- Highlight the unique features of the NEAR Protocol that make it advantageous for researchers, such as sharding, low transaction costs, and high throughput.

3. **BOS Profile Setup**
- Step-by-step guided tutorial to help participants set up their BOS profiles.

4. **Create a Post on BOS**
- Participants will make a post about the NCR course. This exercise aims to familiarize them with posting and interacting on the NEAR platform.

5. **Set up a NEAR Social Short Link**
- Tutorial on setting up a customisable NEAR Social short link for personal or research purposes.
- [.near domains?](https://pages.near.org/blog/near-protocol-partners-with-d3-to-apply-for-near-top-level-domain/)

#### Homework

Please take some time to participate in our [intro poll](https://near.social/#/easypoll-v0.ndc-widgets.near/widget/EasyPoll?page=view_poll&src=chloe.near/easypoll-4.0.0/poll/e6e092937cde3lt3l8syk0e81f93e7679f) and see you next week for class 2!