# NCR Course Module 3
## Class 5 Lesson plan
## Research Topic Identification

[(Recording)](https://t.me/ResearchWG/129/4808)

> Register for the class: [Here](https://near.org/xvii.near/widget/NCR.Index?tab=home)

**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**: March 27, 2024 (week 5)
**Time**:10am AST | 2pm UTC
**Duration**: 1 hour
**Platform**: [NCR Thread on Telegram](https://t.me/ResearchWG/181)

**Target Audience**:
- Aspiring researchers.
- Students who have completed classes 1-4 of the Near Certified Researchers Course
- Individuals with little to no prior experience in identifying web3 research topics but focuses on initiating their own research projects.

### Learning Objectives
The primary objective of this class is to guide participants in brainstorming and identifying potential research topics, with the ultimate goal being to embark on individual research projects under the mentorship of Chloe Lewis.

### Pre-Reading Material

- **Homework and Assignments**: [Homework and Assignment Thread on TG](https://t.me/ResearchWG/1436)
- **Course Syllabus**: [NRC Course Syllabus](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/NRC)
- **Previous Classes**:
- [Class 1](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/ncr-01)
- [Class 2](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/ncr-02)
- [Class 3](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/ncr-03)
- [Class 4](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/ncr-04)

### Agenda

| Time | Topic | Activity | Resource |
|-----------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 0-5 mins | Introduction | Briefing on course outline and objectives | [NRC Course Syllabus](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/NRC) |
| 5-20 mins | The Importance of Topic Selection | Presentation and Discussion | |
| 20-45 mins| Guided Brainstorming Session | Students speak or type out their topic ideas while the instructor provides individual guidance. | [Brainstorming Techniques](https://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html) |
| 45-50 mins| Homework Introduction | Discuss the homework assignment for next week. | [Homework and Assignment Thread on TG](https://t.me/ResearchWG/1436) |
| 50-55 mins| Summary and Next Steps | Summary of the session and introduction to next lesson.| [Next Class - 3: Governance in Blockchain](https://hackmd.io/@doulos819/ncr-06) |

### Activities Details

1. **The Importance of Topic Selection**
- Discussion on why topic selection is critical, and how it shapes the course of your research. Resources, articles, or academic papers on the subject may be shared for further reading.

2. **Guided Brainstorming Session**
- In this participative segment, students will vocalize or type out their initial topic ideas. Chloe Lewis will guide the discussion, helping students refine and narrow down their proposed topics to more focused and researchable ideas.

### Homework
- Write a one-page article with citations on a selected research topic. Submit it on the [Homework and Assignment Thread on TG](https://t.me/ResearchWG/1436).

#### Week 5 HW Submissions From Cohort 2
- **portuno.near:** [Blockchain + Digital Property](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d1mGCH-S30xoYzRM12oxCV5PPRwrKT-h-oyHT0JA7QY/edit?usp=sharing)
- **kingofkingspage.near:** [Enhancing Dapps With Oracles](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KrXF6_zIUnpTsuRGSOxnv-84CTgBeexcWguk-qb9AtA/edit) -
- **kavevor.near:** [Assessing and Mitigating Security Risks](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bC6QO6d3ZZkUblQuycCiUfyck_ukD1OtWp05jYmuay8/edit#heading=h.9usfz5jfckdj)
- **1kingsley.near:** [Blockchain Education and Literacy](https://docs.google.com/document/d/112eRElG8HsjHEppzX_DOQ5WzeTN9hIkkWTIm-UTHPOM/edit)
- **batalys.near:** [Cross-Chain Interoperability with NEAR Protocol](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nYxvFUlUc2vwVm1unlk-7yen5DxR0Ig_l14JiKhb_KA/edit)
- **kaymens.near:** [Blockchain Scalability: Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Governance](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vAUsnYMTfZNyzOOjbJsc44z109yidGqk_oDlNhvsp9Q/edit)
- **saaflix.near:** [Game Theory in Decentralized Systems](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CbJNydSZL-WjdVC2KJG2-BtHsviSkmkVCbvMVZyimk8/edit) -
- **michaelina.near:** [Strategies for Boosting NEAR Protocol Adoption](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I6qobBzcv50ixu7pQw6jV_Xm_iyK0tZQmbhxWh0dy0E/edit)
- **hamzasterling.near:** [Potential for CBDC's on NEAR](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-E-76AplpXYDAU-Ekt79xrVZnB9mSOqfcRTxwZgJKj4/edit) -
- **letgodbegod.near:** [Token Economics and Incentive Mechanisms](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10qFjPSBi9aGsLcSPKQL89gIp7ApD0SK2H6aUBcJLmIg/edit) -
- **klarakopi.near:** [ReFi on NEAR
](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EQizCTLPYL7Epv9kt4lFThk2pfuFpfJA4kzUXkdNXMs/edit)

#### Week 5 HW Submissions From Cohort 1
- Rhoda: [NDC election](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1alFrnJ5cQBVouCG5kGytOSZOpd8-sjP1pAdjatTm_UY/edit?usp=drivesdk)
- Ame: [NEAR UX for Spanish speaking contributors](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10eAXOIFTyCjEcHs9Izs2uC61OXFV43Q23uhC7SpqH3k/edit?usp=sharing)
- Dabbie: [Gender in Web3 (women in near the ecosystem](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qxHZu6IKTxxdIJrJNsIGAiHepkH58KyTincgv2i9VtU/edit?usp=sharing))
- Hannah: [Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Ref Finance: Revolutionizing Traditional Finance](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EhODQcNZKAaRdBy_SnERws6-BwlYGp3EVQLY0Zo0Q6E/edit?usp=sharing)
- Nedlar: [cryptography in Blockchain](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cnE-3tJ-jWXCnIPZK8Mi8xvdL4VnrVwEFg6z-j27aQw/edit?usp=sharing)
- Annie: [The impacts of musical NFT’s on near ecosystem. ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10RgXhAs6aaI_6JKy9oTjowjUElUxYeR_-amQpDegYIo/edit)
- XVII - [Defi NEAR vs ETH](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ymC009NWDZxne5CWKrUOhtXTys2MKjxQez5G1brWFyE/edit?usp=sharing)
- Rachel - [Airdrop campaign and it's effects on a new project](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vBMw-TuXuzM5D1jiugBwBJ8lPPEgNmTmwHoKItGqdus/edit?usp=drivesdk)
- BGem's Topic: [DeFi projects on Near](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y_GsDrA_VG8kQubplRqjy8ddIL_Fnjl7IkkNt5YpPbU/edit?usp=drivesdk)