Introduction to Polkadot from edX

Developed by the Technical Education team at the Web3 Foundation, this course provides a comprehensive overview of Polkadot Network, its technology and ecosystem.

This course features the founders of Polkadot who introduce its vision, features and architecture. First, the learners are introduced to the key terminology and are shown how to interact with the Polkadot network with numerous hands-on activities. Later, we dive deeper into the concepts of the shared security, interoperability, cryptography and networking aspects of Polkadot. We wrap up the course by taking a look at the development happening on the Polkadot ecosystem and how to get involved.

The course is open to learners with foundational knowledge on Blockchain.

What you'll learn

Introduction to Polkadot, a heterogeneous sharded multichain
Architecture of Polkadot Network and its key components
Creating and managing accounts on Polkadot Network
How to become a parachain on Polkadot Network
Differences between a full node and a light node
Introduction to Substrate, a blockchain building framework

What's inside

Syllabus

Polkadot and Parachains

Introduction to Polkadot from the founders, vision of Polkadot and an overview of Polkadot network architecture - relay chain, parachains and network protocol. Introduction to the concepts of scalability, interoperability and security. Introduction to Kusama - testnets and canary networks. Becoming a Parachain on Polkadot.

Interacting with Polkadot Network

DOT as a network utility token. Creating and restoring accounts, existential deposit, balance transfers, wallets, staking and validating, participating in governance, setting on-chain identity. Block explorers. On-chain Governance and treasury.

Polkadot Security and Consensus

Nominated Proof of Staking. BABE. GRANDPA Finality gadget. Role of Nominators and Validators. Availability and Validity. Erasure coding. Shared Security - Ethereum vs Polkadot vs Cosmos. Security and Consensus improvements.

Polkadot Cryptography and Networking

Account keys and session keys. Overview of networking - gossiping, distributed service, storage and availability, authentication, transport and discovery. Polkadot telemetry. Full nodes and Light clients. Path of a Parachain block. Challenges and scope for improvements.

Interoperability and Scalability

Polkadot interoperability protocol in depth. Relay chain vs parachain. Validity and availability. Cross chain messaging (XCM). Introduction to parathreads and common good parachains. Statemint. Teleporting assets.

Polkadot for Developers

Introduction to Rust. Introduction to Substrate . Polkadot-JS and APIs. Wasm and Polkadot as a Wasm meta-protocol. Polkadot ecosystem and developers social channels. Substrate recipes and Playground. Westend and Rococo. Ink! smart contracts. Polkadot ecosystem.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces the fundamental concepts of Polkadot Network making it suitable for beginners

Advanced concepts such as shared security and interoperability, relevant for those with prior blockchain knowledge

Provides hands-on activities using Polkadot JS and APIs, fostering practical skills development

Taught by renowned experts Bill Laboon and Radhakrishna Dasari, enhancing credibility and value

Requires foundational knowledge in blockchain, narrowing the audience to those with prior understanding

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Polkadot with these activities:

Blockchain Discussion Group

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Engage in peer discussions to clarify concepts, exchange ideas, and foster a deeper understanding of the course material.

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Join a study group or online forum dedicated to blockchain and Polkadot discussions.
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share insights.

Review shared security concepts

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Reinforce foundational knowledge on shared security to strengthen understanding of Polkadot's security model.

Browse courses on Blockchain Security

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Revisit materials on blockchain security concepts.
Summarize key aspects of shared security, particularly in the context of Polkadot.

Blockchain Concepts Practice Problems

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Practice blockchain concepts to solidify understanding and prepare for course material.

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Solve practice problems on blockchain concepts such as hashing, consensus mechanisms, and smart contracts.
Review solutions and identify areas for improvement.

Three other activities

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Substrate Tutorial

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Enhance understanding of Substrate, a framework used for building Polkadot parachains, to complement course material.

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Follow online tutorials on Substrate basics and development.
Build a simple Substrate-based blockchain.
Deploy and test the blockchain on a local environment.

Explain Polkadot's interoperability features

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Enhance understanding of Polkadot's interoperability capabilities by creating a detailed explanation.

Browse courses on Interoperability

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Describe the cross-chain messaging protocol used by Polkadot.
Explain how Polkadot facilitates the exchange of assets and data between different blockchains.

Deploy a smart contract on Substrate

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Solidify knowledge of Substrate and smart contract development through practical implementation.

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Set up a development environment for Substrate.
Create a basic smart contract using Rust.
Deploy the smart contract to a Substrate-based blockchain.
Test the functionality of the deployed smart contract.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Polkadot will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Developer

Software Developers typically need foundational knowledge on Blockchain in order to begin their careers. This course can be a huge benefit to those who may not have a degree in computer science, as it helps build a foundation for understanding some of the common terms, tasks, and technologies used by Developers. While this course is not a 'how to' guide for developers, its syllabus covers a myriad of topics and prepares the learner to understand the field of Software Development on the Polkadot network.

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Blockchain Engineer

In order to become a Blockchain Engineer, an understanding of the full scope of the field is critical. This course can be categorized as an introduction to everything Polkadot, and could be a great addition to the studies of an Engineer who wishes to begin their career.

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Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts who wish to begin working with Polkadot will find this course very useful. The course covers so many different aspects of Polkadot that it can provide a basic level of comfort and readiness for most who wish to start working with it.

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IT Security Manager

IT Security Managers who must protect blockchain-related software and networks should have foundational knowledge of Polkadot to provide adequate security. This course helps provide a starting point for that knowledge.

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Security Analyst

Security Analysts who work with blockchain systems can benefit from a stronger understanding of Polkadot, and this course can help build that understanding.

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Data Scientist

Many Data Scientists work in fields that touch blockchain, and this course may help to expand a Data Scientist's foundational knowledge of the Polkadot network.

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Network Administrator

A fundamental understanding of the Polkadot network and its features can be useful to Network Administrators for understanding blockchain technology more broadly.

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Technical Support Specialist

Technical Support Specialists who provide support for blockchain applications or networks may find this course helpful for strengthening their knowledge of Polkadot.

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Cybersecurity Architect

While this course is not a comprehensive tool for Cybersecurity Architects, it may be helpful for those who are working with projects that use Polkadot.

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Cryptographic Engineer

This course provides foundational knowledge on Polkadot and its features, which may be relevant to the work of Cryptographic Engineers.

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Back-End Developer

Back-End Developers who are involved with blockchain projects may find some use in this course as it relates to working with Polkadot.

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Web Developer

Web Developers who are interested in the blockchain industry may find this course helpful for understanding the Polkadot network.

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Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers may find this course helpful for gaining knowledge of blockchain networks on a foundational level, including specific knowledge of Polkadot.

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IT Systems Administrator

IT Systems Administrators may find this course helpful for gaining knowledge of blockchain networks on a foundational level, including specific knowledge of Polkadot.

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Database Administrator

Database Administrators may find this course somewhat helpful for gaining knowledge of blockchain networks on a foundational level, including specific knowledge of Polkadot.

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