How Blockchain is Disrupting the learning and Pedagogy

By ASMA News Network Last updated May 15, 2023

3 min read

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform various industries, including education. By using blockchain, educational institutions can create a decentralized, transparent, and secure system for managing academic records, sharing educational resources, and verifying the authenticity of degrees and certificates. In recent times, lots of edtech companies with core competencies in blockchain technologies have disrupted the education industry.

According to a report by HolonIQ, the global market for blockchain in education is expected to reach $1.8 billion by 2030.

In the global market too, blockchain is making a significant impact on educational universities and institutes across the USA, UK, China, Australia, etc. There has been lots of collaboration and development with regards to imbibing blockchain into learning and pedagogical development. The Open University in the UK has collaborated with blockchain startup, Knowledge Unlatched, to create a blockchain-powered platform for sharing and accessing educational resources.

Global giants like Sony, Microsoft, and Google are also investing their resources in creating a blockchain-based platform to improve the overall learning and pedagogical experiences for students. In this development process, Sony Global Education has developed a blockchain-based platform called the “Global Learning XPRIZE” to incentivize the development of educational software and content.

Blockchain Disrupting the Learning and Pedagogy

Secure and Decentralized Record Keeping

Blockchain technology can be used to create tamper-proof, decentralized records of academic achievements, such as diplomas, certificates, and transcripts. This could ensure that students’ academic records are not lost, misplaced, or tampered with. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a blockchain-based system called the “Trusted Learning Environment” to improve the security of student data.

Credential verification

Employers can use blockchain to verify the authenticity of job candidates’ academic credentials, which can reduce the risk of hiring individuals with fake degrees.

The National Institute of Smart Government (NISG) has proposed a blockchain-based solution for issuing academic certificates to students. The solution is expected to improve the security and authenticity of academic records.

The University of Mumbai has partnered with blockchain startup LegitDoc to create a blockchain-based platform for issuing and verifying academic certificates.

Credential Fusion:

Blockchain technology can enable the creation of micro-credentials, which are smaller and more targeted than traditional degrees. These micro-credentials can be used to demonstrate specific skills and competencies and can be added to a student’s academic record.

Open educational resources:

Blockchain technology can facilitate the sharing of educational resources, such as lesson plans, textbooks, and research papers, among students and educators. This can enable educators to collaborate and share best practices, which can improve the overall quality of education. A survey conducted by the Learning Machine and Educause found that 71% of respondents believe that blockchain will have a significant impact on higher education in the next five years.

Progressive learning:

Blockchain technology can enable the creation of personalized learning experiences by tracking students’ progress and creating customized learning paths based on their individual needs and interests. There are many universities offering specific courses based on blockchain technologies. The University of Nicosia in Cyprus was the first university in the world to offer a Master’s degree in Digital Currency, which includes courses on blockchain technology.

MIT has partnered with Learning Machine, a blockchain credentialing platform, to issue digital diplomas to its graduates using blockchain technology.

The Indian School of Business (ISB) has launched a blockchain-based platform called “Ledger Academy” to provide training on blockchain technology.

Government Initiatives

The Indian government, proactively, with its vision for NEP 2020, has taken a mesmerising step in the introduction of blockchain technologies in the education sector. It has launched a project called “IndiaChain” to explore the potential of blockchain technology in various sectors, including education.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that it is exploring the use of blockchain technology to verify academic records of students. The Maharashtra State Board of Skill Development (MSBSD) has partnered with Skill Lync, a blockchain-based edtech startup, to offer online courses on emerging technologies, including blockchain. These initiatives show that there is some interest and investment in blockchain technology in the Indian education sector. However, the adoption of blockchain in education is still in its early stages, and its widespread implementation will require significant investment in infrastructure and resources.

Overall, the use of blockchain technology in education has the potential to improve the efficiency, transparency, and security of the education system. However, it is still in the early stages of development, and its implementation will require significant investment in infrastructure and resources.