An unforgettable learning experience in Argentina

The Input | Output (IO) Education team recently delivered a momentous Cardano developer course at the National Technological University (UTN) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The experience served both to cultivate deep technical learning and to leave a lasting impression on the education team through interactions with the local community and culture.

IO’s technical education lead, Karina Lopez, shares a glimpse into the highlights and stories from this two-week course, delivered in collaboration with Ada Labs for Blockchain Applications (ALBA).

Arriving in Argentina

We arrived in Buenos Aires with excitement, anticipation, and an ambitious goal to turn students into proficient smart contract developers and decentralized application (DApp) creators on Cardano. The UTN had prepared a state-of-the-art lab for our course, equipped with everything we needed: robust WiFi, a spacious classroom, and an inspiring environment decorated with images reflecting Cardano’s different development phases. When we stepped into the lab, it became clear that this would be a unique experience for everyone involved.

Intensive learning and collaboration

The course content took students from novices to fully-fledged Cardano developers in two weeks. This involved deep dives into:

• fundamentals of blockchain technology,
• the Ouroboros consensus mechanism,
• the EUTXO model, and
• both on-chain and off-chain architecture design and development.

We used MeshJS for the off-chain code and Aiken for on-chain coding, ensuring students gained practical skills that they could apply immediately.

Despite the intensity of the course – five hours of lessons for ten consecutive days – the students’ dedication was outstanding. They quickly set up their work environments and eagerly dove into the material, often staying late to continue working on their projects. The classes’ interactive nature fostered collaboration, with students frequently asking questions and engaging in lively discussions.

Building bonds over shared experiences

Beyond the classroom, we had the opportunity to connect with the students on a personal level. Shared meals became a time to relax and bond over delicious Peruvian and Argentinian cuisine. These moments were invaluable in creating a trusting and positive learning environment, allowing us to better understand each student’s background and motivation.

During breaks, we explored the rich cultural tapestry of Buenos Aires, which deepened our connection to the community and provided a broader context for our work. The passion and commitment of the Cardano community in Latin America inspired us.

Empowering knowledge

The course empowered students with the knowledge and tools needed to build on the Cardano platform. Some of the most impactful topics included:

• designing and creating complete DApps with MeshJS,
• designing the architecture of and writing & testing Plutus validators, and
• managing time and determinism in validators

Students showed great enthusiasm for these topics, particularly in learning Aiken and validator design, which led to an extra day of testing and further exploration.

Besides the main course, students participated in some complementary workshops to boost their learning, including:

• ‘Accelerating blockchain adoption by improving developer experience’ by Alejandro Guillermo Avagnina and Felipe Gonzalez from the txPipe team, which provided insights into using Demeter.run,
• a workshop on Marlowe, also delivered by us,
• ‘Building Web 2.9 or Web 3?’ by GameChanger founder, Adriano Fiorenza,

Students appreciated these extra sessions, which enabled a wider exploration of blockchain technology beyond the core curriculum.

Celebrating success and looking ahead

The course culminated in a challenging six-hour exam where students applied what they had learned to design and write smart contracts for a DApp project. Out of 20 participants, 18 completed the course, emerging as new Cardano developers ready to contribute to the ecosystem.

The graduation ceremony was a moment of pride and celebration, with IO’s CEO, Charles Hoskinson delivering an inspirational speech that resonated with the students’ hard work and potential. Charles also met with UTN Buenos Aires’s dean, Guillermo Oliveto, to discuss the impact and future of such initiatives.

The event featured contributions from esteemed professors Philip Wadler and Aggelos Kiayias, who joined remotely from the University of Edinburgh.

We bid farewell to Buenos Aires with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. This course became more than just an educational experience, turning into a journey of discovery, connection, and mutual growth. The bonds we formed and the knowledge we shared will continue to shape the future of Cardano development in Latin America.

We look forward to future opportunities to engage with the vibrant Cardano community in this region and beyond. Until then, we remain committed to supporting and empowering the next generation of blockchain developers.

We are now planning another round of this course for later this year, keep tuned for more details coming soon!