Critical analysis of applicability of block chain technology to education management

Abstract

Block chain is an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions efficiently, in a verifiable and permanent way. As per Gartner’s hype cycle for Block chain 2019, most of the initiatives in the application of Block chain technology are still in the phase of “innovation trigger” and it would take another 5 to 10 years to reach the “Plateau of productivity stage”.

Global crisis created by COVID -19 has given a positive momentum to online education. Wide use of technology, penetration of technology at the doorsteps, have opened up new opportunities for education industry. Therefore authors felt the need to assess the possibility of deploying block chain technology to education industry.

On this background, the researchers had following objectives set for the paper.

1. To evaluate the necessity of deploying block chain technology to various academic and administrative processes prevalent in education industry and /or institute.


2. To suggest the appropriate type of block chain, wherever there is necessity of deploying block chain


3. To find out the common factors, where use of block chain would be beneficial

The researchers have followed a three step process while analyzing and deriving the conclusions. In step 1 they have identified 10 academic and 3 administrative processes which are common to majority of educational institutes. In step 2 they have assessed the necessity of deploying block chain by using IBM’s fundamental model of assessment. In step 3 they have found out whether permissioned block chain would be more appropriate or public block chain will be better for each relevant process.

Conclusions were summarized in three categories as follows 1.The processes that do not need block chain 2. The processes where permissioned block chain would be suitable and 3. The processes where public block chain would be preferred