This book explores the current and future impacts of blockchain technologies, such as cryptocurrency, on the education system. Blockchain is a disruptive technology based on a shared, distributed ledger, where transactions are registered by consensus in a network of peers, using cryptographic mechanisms that render the records virtually immutable and, ideally, enable transparency, auditability, and resilience. What role, then, could it play in fostering transformative approaches such as student-centred teaching and learning, distributed learning environments, and lifelong learning? This book provides essential perspectives into blockchain applications and challenges within education and offers a broader view of blockchain technology against existing information and communication technologies used in education. Spanning the effects on institutions, students, and the labor market, these chapters offer critical reviews and analyses of current research, practical first-hand applications of blockchain in education, and original conceptual models.
Author(s): Grażyna Paliwoda-Pękosz, Piotr Soja
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 216
City: New York
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Editors and Contributors
Acknowledgements
Blockchain technology in Education 4.0: An introduction
References
Chapter 1: Towards Education 4.0: Challenges and opportunities
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Education 4.0 ecosystem
1.2.1 Fourth Industrial Revolution and its influence on education
1.2.2 New generations on the labour market
1.2.3 Possibilities of educational processes automation
1.2.4 Higher education institutions in the changing environment
1.3 Competency-based learning
1.3.1 Impact of the labour market on learning approaches
1.3.2 Industry 4.0 and the focus on skills in education
1.4 New learning methods and forms
1.4.1 Stakeholders of educational process
1.4.2 Evolution of teaching methods and digitalisation
1.4.3 Next generation pedagogy framework
1.5 Impact of disruptive technologies
1.5.1 Introduction to disruptive technologies
1.5.2 Big data
1.5.3 Cloud computing
1.5.4 Extended reality
1.5.5 Artificial Intelligence
1.5.6 Blockchain
1.5.7 Other disruptive technologies
1.6 Conclusions
References
Chapter 2: Blockchain as a disruptive technology in Education 4.0
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Distributed Ledger Technology
2.2.1 The concept
2.2.2 How DLT works
2.2.3 Consensus algorithm
2.2.4 Smart contracts
2.2.5 Potential applications of DLT
2.3 Determinants of blockchain technology adoption
2.4 Blockchain’s potential for reshaping education
2.4.1 Applications of blockchain in education
2.4.2 Challenges in adopting blockchain in education
2.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 3: Supporting the management of educational institutions using blockchain
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Business process management in educational institutions
3.2.1 Introduction to the process approach
3.2.2 Business process orientation in educational institutions
3.2.3 Business process management lifecycle
3.2.4 Blockchain recommendations for BPM lifecycle
3.2.5 Using blockchain to process tenders for HEIs
3.3 Managing inter-organisational processes
3.3.1 Introduction to inter-organisational processes
3.3.2 Adding value to higher education organisational processes
3.3.3 Sample blockchain implementations in the higher education domain
3.3.3.1 QualiChain
3.3.3.2 EBSI
3.3.3.3 EduCTX
3.4 Facilitating accreditation of educational institutions
3.4.1 Motivation and stakeholders of the accreditation process
3.4.2 Accreditation process
3.4.3 The proposition of a blockchain-based accreditation system
3.5 Reshaping management of the educational processes
3.6 Conclusions
References
Chapter 4: Management of student-centred learning with blockchain
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Supporting distributed learning
4.2.1 Introduction to distributed learning
4.2.2 Distance education
4.2.3 Blockchain support
4.3 Facilitating lifelong learning
4.3.1 Introduction to lifelong learning
4.3.2 Lifelong learning challenges
4.3.3 Blockchain-related solutions in lifelong learning
4.4 Accessing educational content
4.4.1 Introduction to accessing educational content
4.4.2 Intellectual property rights in sharing educational resources
4.4.3 Solutions based on blockchain and InterPlanetary File System
4.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 5: Addressing labour market challenges with blockchain
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Expectations, needs, and challenges of the labour market
5.2.1 Industry 4.0 and its impact on the labour market
5.2.2 Automation and its consequences
5.2.3 Generations and their attitudes
5.2.4 Expectations towards HEIs
5.2.5 How blockchain can support education and the labour market
5.3 Competencies and skills for the evolving labour market
5.3.1 The problem of term ambiguity
5.3.2 Competency formalisation models
5.3.3 Typologies of soft skills
5.3.4 Evolution of the competence classification system on the example of Poland
5.3.5 Proposition of a conceptual model for registering qualifications
5.3.6 The competence data structure
5.4 Blockchain in the system of competences management
5.4.1 Related solutions
5.4.2 General system overview
5.4.3 Justification for the use of blockchain technology
5.4.4 Users and their roles in the system
5.4.5 IPeCoL-based solution architecture
5.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 6: Teaching blockchain: The case of the MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency of the University of Nicosia
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Episode I: Programme conception and launch
6.3 Episode II: From small wins to success
6.4 Episode III: Continued improvements maintain success and protect competitive advantage
6.5 Episode IV: Shaping the future
6.6 Lessons learnt
6.7 Conclusions
References
Chapter 7: Academic certificates issued on blockchain: The case of the University of Nicosia and Block.co
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Limitations of the existing centralised systems for the issuance of diplomas
7.3 Blockchain meets the potential
7.4 The case of Block.co: Issuing, validating and revoking certificates on blockchain
7.4.1 Block.co – The current solution
7.4.2 Block.co – Moving forward
7.5 Lessons learnt
7.6 Conclusions
References
Chapter 8: Blockchain’s impact on education: Current landscape and prospects for the future
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Promising areas of blockchain application in education
8.2.1 Education as a potential area of blockchain application
8.2.2 Approaches to blockchain adoption in education
8.2.3 Benefits of blockchain adoption in education
8.3 Current landscape: Lessons learned from practice
8.3.1 Overview of current blockchain implementations
8.3.2 Certificates and diplomas verification
8.3.3 Intellectual property rights
8.4 Prospects of reshaping the Education 4.0 ecosystem
8.4.1 General challenges to blockchain adoption
8.4.2 Challenges to blockchain applications in education
8.4.3 Blockchain as a support for Education 4.0
8.5 Conclusions
References
Index
