The ripples caused by blockchain technology, which powers Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, are not limited to the financial sector.

Professionals and schools have begun to see its revolutionary potential in education in the past several years. By revolutionising the tracking and sharing of knowledge and providing unprecedented opportunities to secure academic degrees, blockchain is reshaping education for the digital era.

How does this technology change the game, and how could it shake up the education status quo?

How Blockchain Could Revolutionise the Classroom

Blockchain, at its heart, is an immutable, transparent digital ledger that records information securely. Every bit of information is permanently archived in the system in interconnected "blocks" that make up a "chain”. An unprecedented degree of security and trust is provided by this technology, which guarantees that data cannot be edited or erased once added. This means a blockchain might create an immutable, efficient and trustworthy system for recording academic qualifications, records and accomplishments.

Transcripts and diplomas aren't the only documents that blockchain technology could one day store. How and why blockchain technology could cause a major upheaval in the academic sector are detailed here.

Prevention of Fraud and Improvement of Trust

Degree fraud and the fabrication of transcripts are a major problem in the academic world. Research shows that academic fraud has increased due to the simplicity with which individuals can fake credentials, which has serious ramifications for universities and jobs.

A solution is provided by blockchain technology, which allows for the creation of immutable digital credentials that can be verified. Academic credentials such as degrees, certificates and certifications can be verified by registering them on a blockchain.

Institutions of higher learning and employers no longer need to depend on cumbersome background checks or third-party agencies to confirm a candidate's credentials.

The system has already been put into practice in the real world. Prominent universities such as MIT have started to offer digital certificates built on blockchain. Digital copies of degrees are provided to graduates and may be accessed using a secure app. These copies can be shared with prospective employers or other educational institutions.

The instant authentication of these digital certificates guarantees an unparallelled degree of confidence in academic accomplishments. Facilitating the movement of course credits and transferring academic credits from one school to another has always been a tedious and complicated process. Students frequently encounter obstacles when transferring from one institution to another, whether inside the country or abroad, such as delays or the possibility of losing credits. Blockchain technology has the potential to solve this problem by creating a decentralised, unified system for the safe storage and interoperability of students' academic information.

Credit transfers between schools would be a breeze with a record-keeping system based on the blockchain. Students' full academic records would be available to schools with a simple verification procedure on a blockchain ledger, eliminating the need for paper transcripts and other administrative red tape.

In the current era of globalised education, when students often transfer between nations and schools for better educational opportunities, this could have a profound impact.

Providing Students with Portfolios for Lifelong Learning

In today's fast-paced environment, where skills and abilities always evolve, students can pursue knowledge from anywhere.

Degrees and certificates may not be sufficient to reflect a student's growth as a learner in light of the proliferation of online resources for instruction, including seminars, online courses and shorter courses.

Students can build their own portfolios of knowledge that include not just their official education but also their informal learning, certifications, and abilities acquired from many sources using blockchain technology. Thanks to the blockchain, which records every accomplishment, a complete and up-to-date record of a student's abilities can be created.

Because they would be able to see their own academic records, students would feel more agency under this system. They have complete control over who can access their learning portfolios (e.g., prospective employers or educational institutions). They can add new information as they gain experience.

This approach is designed to keep up with the ever-changing demands of today's work economy.

Maintaining Honesty in the Classroom

Plagiarism, cheating and the abuse of digital resources are worries that have accompanied the growth of online education.

Blockchain technology has the potential to solve these problems by providing an immutable ledger of all academic transactions, such as assignments, grades and reviews. Blockchain technology would allow schools to keep open records of student work, making it simpler to detect plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Because of this, people may have more faith in online education programmes, which have had problems with academic honesty.

Also, educational institutions' data might be better protected from assaults and breaches with blockchain's decentralised data storage. Blockchain technology solves the problem of data privacy and transparency in an era where educational records are worth more and more.

Difficulty Levels

There are still major obstacles to blockchain's broad acceptance, even though its potential in academia is obvious. Many institutions might not have the technical knowledge or budget to properly integrate blockchain technology into their systems, and the cost of doing so could be substantial. Furthermore, blockchain might not become a universal answer for a while due to the absence of standards in the academic community. Data privacy and the moral use of blockchain technology are additional issues that require resolution.

To guarantee the ethical use of this technology, educational institutions must collaborate closely with governing and regulatory organisations to develop rules and regulations.

How Blockchain Will Change the Face of Education

Blockchain technology has a bright future in the classroom despite these obstacles. We may witness blockchain technology's centralisation in the academic environment as the number of institutions experimenting with it grows and the technology develops.

Blockchain technology can revolutionise education in many ways, including the elimination of fraud, the simplification of credit transfers, the creation of learning portfolios for lifelong learning, and the improvement of academic integrity.

In the next years, this technology's acceptance will be crucial due to its ability to revolutionise the academic world.

-- BERNAMA

Ts Dr Abdelrahman Ibrahim is an Education Technology expert with Permata Insan College, University Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).