Blockchain was initially meant to be used in the cryptocurrency market. Its applications were later extended to other business sectors like education. Since its adoption in the education sector, stakeholders have reported better transparency and security. It has enhanced research activities and helped manage student records better.
Blockchain technology experiences challenges while in use in the education field. Some institutions have reported data and privacy concerns. Some experience legal and regulatory challenges. This technology provides many opportunities and challenges in education.
Opportunities presented by blockchain integration in education
Academic research enhancement
When writing research reports, students gather information from many places. It is harder to trust these sources at times. Data stored in the blockchain cannot be changed. Students using this channel will be sure to get the original data. This makes their reports trustworthy. It makes it easier to confirm if the source is credible. It enhances collaboration in scientific innovations.
Research and report writing is important for college students. Sometimes these tasks burden students due to the volume of work they must handle. Technology has made life easier for students. They can order an essay online from the comfort of their study room. It is easier to do research and write quality assignments due to the online support that EduBirdie provides. Learners can pay for essay any time they want. They only need to use this reputed platform to hire an essay writer. The essay help offered by this platform guarantees quality and timely delivery.
Effective student records management
Schools with large student populations have had problems managing records in the past. Handling records manually has been a challenge for many years. Educators and administrators manually entered courses, grades, and enrollment records. Blockchain made this system effective and error-free. It stores records securely and in a permanent digital format.
Decentralized educational platforms
Learning institutions have historically relied on centralized learning platforms. Any security breach on these tools causes a devastating effect on learning. Blockchain technology helped decentralize these platforms. It increases student-teacher interaction in different channels. It makes education more accessible and affordable. Students share ideas and resources on these platforms for a better learning experience.
It is easier to verify the academic qualifications of an applicant
Nowadays, schools store academic credentials on the blockchain. Documents stored in this channel cannot be changed or tampered with. It is easier for an institution to check an applicant’s academic qualifications on the blockchain platform. This is important when students are applying to join higher education institutions. Potential employers also use this method to confirm the qualifications of an applicant.
Challenges of using blockchain in education
- Resistance from stakeholders. Some stakeholders like teachers and administrators may resist change. They can view blockchain as a threat to their jobs. Some may resist because they have no experience using the system. Educating users before implementation can help minimize resistance. Involve everyone in the planning phase.
- Regulatory problems. Blockchain is popular across all business sectors. Unfortunately, there are no clear legal frameworks for using this technology. Laws often differ from one country to the next. It is harder to tell if a user is breaking compliance laws. Collaboration in creating these laws can help break the barrier.
- Technical problems. The blockchain platform is complicated. Very few people in the educational sector can solve technical problems on this platform. Running the system tends to be costly for most institutions. They have to hire skilled talent. They need to buy specialized hardware and undergo costly maintenance costs. Due to this, some still hesitate to integrate this system.
- Lack of a standardized system. The blockchain system has never been standardized to date. There are dozens of different blockchain technologies today. Each system runs with unique rules and guidelines. Schools need systems with unified communication. This makes it harder for them to adopt blockchain.
- Privacy concerns. The blockchain is generally secure due to decentralization. The system generated a lot of data from every transaction or update. This data is shared across millions of computers globally. There are concerns about the privacy of this data. There are clear guidelines about how people who access it use the data.
Conclusion
Blockchain technology provides many opportunities for learning institutions. Schools enjoy more transparency and data security. The platform lets them manage records better and maintain a flexible platform. Several challenges prevent schools from adopting this technology. They have regulatory and data use concerns. Some schools experience resistance and technical issues management. The system is not standardized yet which makes some schools avoid it entirely.
Author’s Bio
Barry Ramos loves every form of writing but his first love is for academic writing. It’s so because he loves interacting with young minds who give him new ideas and consistent motivation to do well in his job. This makes him one of the most successful writers today. He’s currently writing a book on inspiring student startup owners.