3.2.3.2. Session: Implementing Consensus Mechanism

Level: High

Problems of PoW Consensus Mechanism (30 minutes)

• Begin the session with a brief recap of the conclusions from the previous session.
• Present the problem that PoW is computationally demanding and energyintensive. Explain that this poses scalability and environmental challenges.
• Challenge students to brainstorm and ideate alternative selection mechanisms that could replace or complement PoW.
• Encourage creativity and innovation in proposing new ideas. They should focus on high-level ideas and concepts.
• In groups, have students develop high-level concepts for alternative selection mechanisms. These concepts should address the challenges of PoW while ensuring security and decentralization.

Consensus Mechanism Prototypes (30 minutes)

• Instruct each group to choose one of their conceptual solutions for the selection mechanism and outline a prototype for it. They should consider how this mechanism will determine who can add blocks to the blockchain and how it addresses the challenges of PoW.
• Ask students to visually represent their ideated concepts using simple diagrams or sketches. The presentation should outline the key components and workings of their mechanism.
• Groups should also highlight the advantages their mechanism offers over PoW, such as reduced energy consumption, improved scalability, or enhanced security.

Group Discussion and Validation (30 minutes)

• Invite all groups to present their proposed solutions and concepts.
• Initiate a group discussion to review the visualized concepts and ideas. Groups provide structured feedback on each other's concepts.
• Ask questions like, "How would other nodes in the network know if the block proposer is eligible for the proposal?” or “How is this solution providing enough time for information to propagate through the blockchain network?”
• Summarize the key insights and conclusions regarding implemented selection mechanisms and conclude the session by encouraging students to carry their understanding and ideation skills into the other modules.