BLOCKCHAIN FOR EDUCATION: A STUDY ON DIGITAL
ACCREDITATION OF PERSON AND ACADEMIC LEARNING
RESEARCH PROPOSAL PRESENTED TO THE JRC
10/03/2017
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
Technologies
Applications
Solutions
Digitally
Signed
Certificates
Bitcoin
Crypto
Currencies
BlockCert
Distributed
vs. Central
Ledgers
Ethereum
SmartContracts
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 designfeatures 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 STANDARDISATION
ISO 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
vs
Digital Credentialling
(with a Blockchain Focus)
METHODOLOGY
WORK PLAN AND TIMETABLE
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
The Blockcerts
technical specification,
governing structure,
operations and
intellectual property
arrangements
The OpenBlockChain
technical specification,
governing structure,
operations and
intellectual property
arrangements
Interviews with representatives of all
relevant stakeholders in blockchain and
education, namely:
Applications of blockchain for
education
Desk Research utilising primary
sources covering:
Literature review of any published
literature on:
WP 1: DESK-RESEARCH, INTERVIEWS AND LITERATURE REVIEW
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
Open Block Chain
Malta Blockchain Pilot
• 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)
• 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 semistructured interviews
• Analysis of publicly available reactions to each of the schemes in industry-press.
• 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 March
WP 1
15 May
•
•
•
•
Literature Review: 2 weeks
Analysis of Specifications: 1 week
Interviews: 2 weeks
Preparation of WP 1 deliverable: 1 week
WP 2
•
•
•
•
•
WP 3
•
•
•
•
30 Jun
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
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 MANAGEMENT
Risk
Severity
Likelihood
Mitgating Measures
Major Blockchain
Low: May Result in Delays, but will ensure
Developments lead to need to
excellent results
rewrite / redo parts of research
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