With the advent of new technologies like blockchain, 5G, artificial intelligence, and edtech, the world we live in is radically being transformed. Though these technologies are in the initial stages of development or implementation, they have the potential to change the way humanity works, lives, and communicates with each other. Blockchain and edtech are two of the recently developed and popularised technologies that can be advantageous for humanity if brought together. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and by bringing the advantages of each of these technologies together, we will be able to transform the education sector. In this article, we will explore the possibilities of the integration of blockchain technology into the edtech industry.

What is Edtech?

Edtech, short for education technology, is a cluster of technological solutions aimed at making education better. It is both hardware- and software-based, with unique solutions created by unique companies and startups to address the challenges of modern learners. Integration of technology in education was gradual, initially with the popularity of personal computers and projectors apart from science laboratories. In light of the recent technological breakthroughs, the education sector is rapidly implementing new and able solutions to aid learners. From smart classroom solutions to modern online learning platforms, the edtech industry has grown to become a mainstream subsector of education.

Modern edtech startups like Masterclass, Byju's, Udemy, Google Classroom, and Duolingo are offering software solutions to learners across age groups and demographics. Modern edtech and smart Classroom market size were around $125.3 billion in 2022 (Source: Markets&Markets). Furthermore, it is expected to double in the next five years. While startups and established businesses are looking for ways to make education easier and more accessible for everyone, the integration of blockchain and edtech is an idea that brings fresh possibilities and challenges to the table.

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What is the Blockchain?

According to IBM, blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network. It is a digital system of recording information, which makes it next to impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system. This digital ledger works as a decentralised database. Every digital transaction in the system is duplicated and distributed across the system, making it impossible to alter. These individual systems, called blocks, are linked together in a system like a chain. Any transaction made in one part of the block will be recorded in every other part of the chain. The decentralised database managed by multiple participants is known as distributed ledger technology (Source: EuroMoney).

The most popular example of blockchain technology is the Bitcoin network. In the Bitcoin network, which is a popular cryptocurrency, each block contains a record of all Bitcoin transactions that have ever taken place. These transactions are verified and added to the blockchain in a decentralised manner, making it a highly secure and transparent ledger for all Bitcoin transactions. Nowadays, there are several bitcoins in the digital world, revolutionising digital trade across the world. However, these cryptocurrencies are not the only ones on blockchains. In the supply chain industry, some early adopters are using blockchain technology to track the movement of goods from manufacturer to consumer across all stages. This integration creates a transparent and secure record of the journey of the product. In edtech, especially in edtech software solutions, blockchain can bring a revolution in terms of safety, accessibility, and ease.

While there are several aspects of education technology, including software solutions, hardware, and other equipment, the focus of this article will be on the data solutions of edtech. You can integrate blockchain into the edtech sector to manage, store, and verify educational data and information that is sensitive and personal while also needing access at all times. This information includes student records, academic certificates and degrees, educational institutions, certificate awarding bodies, educational transactions, and other important data.

In a blockchain-integrated edtech system, data is recorded on a decentralised network of computers, which makes it secure, transparent, and resistant to tampering. As a result, fake degrees and educational certifications can easily be found through technical means of application worldwide. Blockchain integration into edtech allows educational institutions to store and access data online without compromising security. Hence, a more efficient, secure, and accessible system for managing and sharing educational data and information is needed.

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Benefits of using Blockchain in Edtech and education sector

1. Blockchain enhances security through decentralised and secure data management

The integration of blockchain into edtech decentralises the educational data of learners and institutions, making it less vulnerable to cyberattacks, data theft, and leakage. As the information is spread across the blockchain network with higher levels of security and digital accountability, it will be even harder to hack and more resistant to fraud. Decentralisation also reduces the risk of data loss in cases where the whole database lies in a single location, which is highly vulnerable to risks like natural disasters, internet shutdowns, or other forms of physical data manipulation.

2. Tamper-proof digital certificates enhance trust in the edtech industry

The world, especially the digital world, is crawling with new kinds of fraud and financial scams. Fake IDs and certificates are a headache for organisations and governments to track down the roots. Several underground mafias offer fake educational certificates so that even unqualified individuals can get the recognition and perks of degree or diploma holders. While this is a direct attack on the hard work of academic achievers, it snatches opportunities away from the educated population as well. Blockchain technology can be used to create, store, and access tamper-proof digital certificates that can be easily verified by employers or educational institutions. This largely prevents fraud and boosts the credibility of real educational certificates. Hence, the value of education goes up, and the idea of "certificates over learning" can be dealt with.

3. The integration improves access to education

Blockchain can be used to provide resources to the right students without worrying about unauthorised access or data leakage. Some research, academic papers, and intellectual properties are kept in a safe digital space to avoid theft or unauthorised access. These intellectual properties are valuable for edtech companies and educational institutions. Providing this private and sensitive information to online learners over the internet can be risky, even with all the cybersecurity measures put in place. Blockchain can safeguard the process and help provide access to educational resources and information for remote learners. This, in turn, breaks down barriers to education and enables more people to access high-quality educational opportunities.

4. It enhances learners' privacy

Data security is the need of the hour with a massive amount of data theft and leakage over the internet. For edtech companies, the privacy and data security of their students is of high importance. Storing an edtech company's massive, diverse data in a single place can be risky and impractical in the dangerous digital world. Hackers target massive databases, which makes edtech companies a high-profile target. Regardless of the data storage system, the company puts in place to safeguard its information, hackers are bound to find a loophole and exploit the system. Storing these databases in a blockchain makes them more secure and prevents any unauthorised access, ensuring that students' privacy rights are respected.

5. It makes verification processes easier

While storing the private information of students is one thing, edtech companies must also make sure that it is accessed by the right individuals without any hassles. Integrating blockchain technology will help address this challenge by verifying the access methods. Even relevant third-party authorities like governments can verify these credentials, degrees, or other information efficiently. This reduces the burden of complicated verification processes on edtech companies and prevents fraud, leading to a more transparent and trustworthy education system.

6. Blockchain in edtech improves record-keeping

By using blockchain, edtech companies and educational institutions can maintain accurate and transparent records of the academic progress of their learners. This reduces the amount of paperwork that is often involved in traditional record-keeping. Moreover, blockchain integration also ensures safer record-keeping compared to other data storage methods. Finally, blockchain integration makes it easier to track and monitor progress over time and ensures educational outcomes are optimised for all students.

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Challenges in Implementing Blockchain in EdTech

Integrating blockchain with edtech can revolutionise the edtech industry and thus transform the education system itself. However, this transformation is easier said than done. There are several challenges to the widespread integration of blockchain in edtech. Here are some of them.

1. Technical challenges

Blockchain technology is still in its infancy stages and is highly unlikely to get implemented into the education sector soon due to the technical constraints involved. As the size of the blockchain network increases, so do the complexity and costs of the mining process, or "proof of work." Due to the heavy need for electricity in the mining process, climate change concerns over carbon footprint can be a major challenge to overcome. This challenge is even harder to tackle considering the global scale of education and edtech systems. As the current infrastructure is not capable of handling large amounts of data and transactions, this will lead to slow and inefficient systems that are not well suited for the needs of the current edtech sector (Source: Park, J. Promises and challenges of Blockchain in education).

2. Scalability issues

Blockchain is also harder to implement on a larger scale or to adapt to or connect with other smaller blockchains. For example, if a smaller education institution creates its blockchain network for education data, it can be operated with fewer hurdles than a blockchain for a whole university. Considering this case, university degrees are almost always granted by the state or university, which are third parties in a blockchain with student nodes. This further complicates the implementation process. With different educational institutions using different systems and platforms, the integration process of different blockchain systems is a difficult technical challenge. This can lead to a fragmented education system that is not well suited to the needs of students, educators, and institutions.

3. Regulation will be difficult.

Regulating the blockchain in edtech can be a major challenge for companies. The traditional education sector is highly regulated and organised. The transformation from traditional means to blockchain will be a tedious and time-consuming process. While these are technical challenges, there is also resistance to change, which can make the process complex. A lack of awareness about the advantages and disadvantages of blockchain technology will undermine the trust factor and might cause trouble in integrating the two technologies. All these factors make it harder for edtech companies and educational institutions to adopt them and reap the full benefits of both technologies.

Educational institutions, edtech startups, and IT companies must invest in the development of blockchain infrastructure that can be scalable and compliant with existing regulations. There is also a need for increased awareness and education about blockchain technology, both among educational institutions, edtech startups, and the general public. This will help overcome resistance to change and increase understanding of the benefits of blockchain in edtech. Despite these challenges, the future of blockchain and edtech is very promising. As blockchain technology continues to mature and evolve, it will become easier and more practical for educational institutions to adopt it. This will lead to a more secure, efficient, and accessible education system for all.

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Conclusion

Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionise many industries, including the edtech industry. The integration of blockchain in edtech has the potential to bring many benefits, including secure data management, tamper-proof digital certificates, and improved access to education. There are several challenges in the implementation of blockchain in edtech as well. Technical challenges, resistance to change, and ignorance of the technology are some of the major obstacles for companies in utilising the benefits of both technologies. Moreover, the technologies are in their early stages which arise other technical challenges. However, these challenges can be overcome with the right investments, awareness, and education. By addressing these challenges, the edtech sector can realise the full potential of blockchain technology. The future of blockchain and edtech is bright, with many potential benefits.

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Citations

Park, J. Promises and challenges of Blockchain in education. Smart Learn. Environ. 8, 33 (2021).

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-021-00179-2