What makes the Hitchhiker Academy different? On this page we explore some of the technical innovations and strategies we use that distinguish us and relate us to other similar projects.
- **Federation and Infrastructure:** Leveraging advances in federated technologies, the Academy aims to construct platforms that enable decentralised but interoperable communities. - **Sustainable Finance:** Emphasis is placed on mutual organisations, drawing on models like blockchain-facilitated open co-operatives, allowing communities to finance and independently own their hosting, technical, and administrative infrastructure. - **Small Group Practice:** Mirroring successful study circle models, the Academy’s organising structure is comprised of small project-based workgroups.
# Critical Engagement with Social Media Part of the Academy's curriculum involves analysing current social media, focusing on: - The attention economy and associated mental health challenges. - Issues of privacy, data protection, and the risks posed by public online spaces. - Trolling, aggressive behaviour, and the broader governance and stewardship issues of digital communities. - The potential and pitfalls of deploying AI in education, particularly its responsible implementation as a support tool within the Academy's activities.
# See - Organisational Approach