The buzz about blockchain technology is everywhere. But beyond its role in cryptocurrencies, what other applications can this technology serve? This article aims to provide an overview of blockchain technology and explores a potential use case in eLearning.

Leveraging Blockchain Technology in eLearning

Let's start with a concise explanation of blockchain: Essentially, blockchain is a continuously expanding list of records, known as blocks, linked together using cryptographic techniques—hence the name "blockchain." Each block contains a secure hash that connects it to the previous block, transaction data, and a timestamp.

Unlike conventional data storage on a central server, blockchain is distributed across multiple computers or nodes, a feature that guarantees information can be verified at any time. Moreover, it makes data manipulation an incredibly challenging task. To alter a record, one would need to change data on at least 51% of all nodes storing the information. Only then can a manipulated record be successfully verified and marked as correct. This level of security and resilience has led to various blockchain development companies in the USA and around the world exploring innovative applications of this technology.

The most famous use of blockchain is in cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin. Now, let's explore how this technology can be harnessed for digital learning.

Blockchain in Digital Learning: A Scenario

If short-term gains are not your primary goal, we can look past stunts like the Long Island Iced Tea Corporation's rebranding to "Long Blockchain Corp," which temporarily boosted their stock value by 500%. For a meaningful and long-lasting implementation of blockchain in eLearning, a more sustainable approach is essential.

First, we need to identify the key stakeholders. In the context of eLearning, these stakeholders include learners, eLearning providers, and employers. Since transparency and verification are the core benefits of blockchain, the most practical application in eLearning would be managing qualifications.

In this scenario, the process begins when a learner participates in a course. Upon course completion, a new block is generated. This block contains the learner's results, details of the course, and the timestamp of completion. If the course is successfully finished, the result can also be in the form of a certificate.

For Learners: Blockchain provides learners with verified qualifications that can be easily accessed and managed online or stored securely on a device. Sharing qualifications with potential employers or universities becomes a seamless process, eliminating the need for paper-based submissions and addressing translation issues, as blockchain data can be multilingual.

For eLearning Providers: They gain direct access to learner records, enabling them to assess whether a student meets prerequisites for advanced qualifications. This information can also be used to recommend similar courses to the learner, contingent upon the implementation of a universal classification catalog for cross-provider qualification comparisons.

For Potential Employers: Employers have access to these records, ensuring the validation of a learner's qualifications. They can also track the expiration of employee qualifications. An automated process can be employed to continuously check the qualifications of all employees. If a qualification has lapsed, the employee can be automatically registered for a course to regain the necessary certification. Additionally, line managers and HR departments can be promptly notified of such issues.

Future Prospects in eLearning

Of course, this is just one potential application scenario for blockchain in eLearning. There are numerous other possibilities, such as using blockchain for purchasing eLearning content, verifying compliance-related training, or representing lifelong learning achievements within the blockchain.

Moreover, ongoing advancements, such as the utilization of smart contracts, open up new avenues for innovation in eLearning. As this technology continues to evolve, it will extend its reach to new application areas and use cases, necessitating further analysis and exploration.