BLOCKCHAIN FOR EDUCATION: A STUDY ON DIGITAL ACCREDITATION OF PERSON AND ACADEMIC LEARNINGRESEARCH PROPOSAL PRESENTED TO THE JRC10/03/2017
Alex Grech & Anthony F. Camilleri
REFERENCE-WORKS
On Virtual and Cryptocurrencies: a general overview from the technological aspects to financial implications", (2015). ???
OpenCred: exploring issues around the recognition of non-formal learning via MOOCs in Europe
Overview and Analysis of the Concept and Applications of Virtual Currencies (2016)
WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN FOR EDUCATION AND HOW CAN IT BE APPLIED?
What is the blockchain, what are the technologies and concepts that underpin it? How is blockchain different from conventional ledger systems? What are the applications of blockchain technology? How is blockchain being applied in credentialisation in education?
Specifically, what are the features of the following systems: Blockcerts (developed and supported by MIT Media Lab and Learning Machine) on the Bitcoin Blockchain OpenBlockChain (supported by the Open University) on the Ethereum Blockchain
What are the differences between these systems?
WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN FOR EDUCATION AND HOW CAN IT BE APPLIED?
Concepts
Digitally Signed
Certificates
Distributed vs.
Central Ledgers
Technologies
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Applications
CryptoCurrencie
s
Smart-Contracts
Solutions
BlockCert
Open Block Chain
CAN BLOCKCHAIN BE USED BY TEACHERS AND LEARNERS AS A TRANSPARENT, TRUSTED SYSTEM FOR SECURING, SHARING AND VERIFYING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN EUROPE?
What ways exist for different users to interact with the blockchain? What training would be required by different users to interact with the blockchain? What user interfaces are necessary to enable interaction with the blockchain?
What features of the blockchain (distinguishing between Ethereum & Bitcoin blockchains as necessary) enable: Transparency Trust Security Sharing Verification
Is blockchain technology fit-for-purpose, i.e. efficient and effective, for recording academic achievements?
CAN BLOCKCHAIN BE USED BY TEACHERS AND LEARNERS AS A TRANSPARENT, TRUSTED SYSTEM FOR SECURING, SHARING AND VERIFYING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN EUROPE?
What is the equivalent infrastructure for blockchain?
Source: http://badges.thinkoutloudclub.com/modules/what/reflect/
CAN BLOCKCHAIN BE USED BY TEACHERS AND LEARNERS AS A TRANSPARENT, TRUSTED SYSTEM FOR SECURING, SHARING AND VERIFYING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN EUROPE?
Which design-features of a quality credentials system are addressed by blockchain?
Source: Validation of Non-formal MOOC-based Learning: An Analysis of Assessment and Recognition Practices in Europe (OpenCred)
WHAT IS THE LIKELY TAKE-UP OF BLOCKCHAIN BY EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS SHOULD IT BE DEPLOYED AS AN OPEN STANDARD? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO THIS END?
How 'open' are the current blockchain specifications for education? Can these specifications be considered a standard?
If not, what is required to standardise them? Is there demand for a technology such as blockchain from Higher Education Institutions in Europe, or from any
of their clients (employers, students or governments)? What are the challenges for take-up in Higher Education Institutions in terms of:
Policy & legislation Technology Institutional culture Resources Knowledge
ELEMENTS FOR ANALYSIS OF AN OPEN LICENCE (MIT)
OPENNESS IN TERMS OF STANDARDISATIONISO proposes that International Standards should be evaluated according to principles stipulated by the World Trade Organization's Technical Barriers to Trade Committee (WTO/TBT):
• Transparency• Openness• Impartiality and
consensus• Effectiveness and
relevance• Coherence• Addressing the concerns
of developing countries.
HOW WILL BLOCKCHAIN INTERACT WITH AND POTENTIALLY SUPPORT BOTH MAINSTREAM AND ALTERNATIVE ACCREDITATION FRAMEWORKS IN EUROPE?
How does the metadata collected by the two blockchain for education specifications compare with European educational standards, including: ECTS Europass (all tools including CV) Diploma Supplement EQF
How does the metadata collected by the two blockchain for education specifications compare with common alterative accreditation frameworks, in particular: Open Badges e-portfolios Continuing Professional Education 'points' schemes
What changes to the blockchain for education specifications (if any) are required to support interoperability with the frameworks outlined above?
Can the centralised nature of accreditation and the decentralised nature of the blockchain be reconciled?
HOW WILL BLOCKCHAIN INTERACT WITH AND POTENTIALLY SUPPORT BOTH MAINSTREAM AND ALTERNATIVE ACCREDITATION FRAMEWORKS IN EUROPE?
Which meta-data needs to be included in the one-way hash?
How should we standardize meta-data between: EU Level MS Level Institutional Level
Source: Blockcerts.org presentation at Malta Presidency State of Digital Education Conference
HOW COULD BLOCKCHAIN HELP BRIDGING ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND INDIVIDUAL'S LEARNING PORTFOLIO?
What are the potential risks and benefits of adopting blockchain for education for: European public authorities
Education ministries The public service more widely
European Higher Education Institutions Non-University providers of tertiary education European Employers (distinction for SMEs if necessary)
What actions are necessary to maximise benefits and mitigate risks? What role can the European Commission play in enabling the technology, should this outcome be
proved to be desirable?
HOW COULD BLOCKCHAIN HELP BRIDGING ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND INDIVIDUAL'S LEARNING PORTFOLIO?
There is a significant case for proposing a semi-open system of recognition of credentials
Source: Beyond the Blockchain:Adding Trust to Academic Credentials, Brendan Farmer - Jared Dunnmon
HOW COULD BLOCKCHAIN HELP BRIDGING ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND INDIVIDUAL'S LEARNING PORTFOLIO?
How Blockchain fits into the wider picture
blockchain
HOW COULD BLOCKCHAIN SUPPORT INCREASING EU EFFORTS TO OPENING UP EDUCATION IN MEMBER STATES?
How can blockchain support opening up education in terms of: improving access to educational opportunities? improving transparency of qualifications? contributing towards open-data / open-government initiatives?
HOW COULD BLOCKCHAIN SUPPORT INCREASING EU EFFORTS TO OPENING UP EDUCATION IN MEMBER STATES?
Analysis of Blockchain, through the lens of appropriate Dimensions of the OpenEdu Framework
QUESTION ON POSITIONING OF RESEARCH
Blockchain for Educational Credentials
Digital Credentialling (with a Blockchain Focus)
vs
METHODOLOGYWORK PLAN AND TIMETABLE
WP 1: DESK-RESEARCH, INTERVIEWS AND LITERATURE REVIEW
Lite
ratu
re r
evie
w o
f any
pub
lishe
d lit
erat
ure
on: Applications of
blockchain for education
Non-financial applications of blockchain more generally
Any new and relevant material on blockchain technology more generally, since the 2015 JRC blockchain study
Digital methods for storing, securing, sharing and verifying academic credentials
Des
k Re
sear
ch u
tilisi
ng p
rimar
y so
urce
s cov
erin
g: The Blockcerts
technical specification, governing structure, operations and intellectual property arrangements
The OpenBlockChain technical specification, governing structure, operations and intellectual property arrangements
Inte
rvie
ws
with
repr
esen
tativ
es o
f all
rele
vant
stak
ehol
ders
in b
lock
chai
n an
d ed
ucat
ion,
nam
ely:
Employers (Business Europe, Eurochambres)
Students (European Students' Union, Erasmus Students Network)
Teachers (Education International)
Accreditors, validators and testers (ENQA, EUA, EURASHE, EADTU, EQAR)
WP 2: CASE STUDIES
Blockcerts.org• State-of-the-art and future plans, based on semi-structured
interviews with leaders of project• Initial feedback from community to open standard (methodology:
workshop conducted online)
Open Block Chain
• State-of-the-art and future plans, based on semi-structured interviews with leaders of project
• Initial feedback from organizations who have piloted each initiative based on semi-structured interviews
• Analysis of publicly available reactions to each of the schemes in industry-press.
Malta Blockchain Pilot
• Interrogation of the reasons for piloting blockchain in Malta (based on open interviews with key stakeholders in the Maltese Ministry for Education and Employment) – needs analysis
• Description of the specific plans for and desired results of the Malta pilot, based on analysis of the Memorandum of Understanding, Open Interviews with all project leaders and observation of initial steps taken under the agreement
WORK-PLAN
Phase Deadline
Project Scoping & Inception End of MarchWP 1• Literature Review: 2 weeks• Analysis of Specifications: 1 week• Interviews: 2 weeks• Preparation of WP 1 deliverable: 1 week
15 May
WP 2• Initial Contact with Case Study Leaders: 1 week• First Interviews and Observations: 1 week• Analysis: 1 week• Second Interviews and Observations: 1 week• Reporting and Peer-Review with Case-Leaders: 2 weeks
30 Jun
WP 3• First Draft: 1 week• Response from IPTS: 1 week• Second Draft: 1 week• Finalisation and Editing: 1 week
30 Jul
METHODS
WP 1 Collection of bibliography from open sources Trend & Policy Analysis Semi-structured interviews (recorded not
transcribed) WP 2
Open-ended interviews Document analysis based on material provided
by interviewees Follow-Up Semi-structured interviews
WP 3 Recommendations with confidence and impact
analysis (not based on external panels)
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Herman de Leeuw
RISK MANAGEMENTRisk Severity Likelihoo
dMitgating Measures
Major Blockchain Developments lead to need to rewrite / redo parts of research
Low: May Result in Delays, but will ensure excellent results
Low Foresight of trends has been taken into account in study design
Unforseen Availability of Primary Researchers (sickness etc)
Medium: Could cause significant delays in study
Very Low Researchers working as team – one researcher can take over fromm the other
Unavailability of Senior Persons for Pilots
High: Would result in diminished outcomes
Low Contact pilot leaders through personal contacts / introductions
Pilots maintain proprietary data / strategies
Medium: Would lead to incomplete foresight
Medium Allow for off-the record briefings to understand wider context
Political / Admin Delays to Malta Pilot
Low: would change focus of pilot from implementing blockchain to problems with blockchain implementation
Medium Focus study on the process of implementing a blockchain pilot