No one left behind in education: blockchain-based transformation and its potential for social inclusion

• Published in: Asia Pacific education review Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 445 - 455
• Main Authors: Kwok, Andrei O. J., Treiblmaier, Horst
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.09.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Access to Education; Blockchain; Education; Educational Administration; Educational Change; Educational inequality; Educational Quality; Educational Trends; Equal Education; Inclusion; Inclusive education; Information Security; Information Storage; Outcomes of Education; Privacy; Social exclusion; Systematic review; Teaching Styles; Technology Uses in Education; Trust (Psychology); Accessibility; Blockchain; I24; Equality; I23; Education accessibility; Social inclusion; Systematic literature review
• ISSN: 1598-1037; 1876-407X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12564-021-09735-4

This study explores how blockchain technology can transform education with a special focus on the social inclusion of students with limited access to educational resources and those who are typically designated as unreachable. We conduct a systematic content analysis of the existing literature on blockchain to identify factors that influence its adoption and use in education. The findings reveal seven important themes at the macro-level, namely, (1) future of education, (2) technology in use, (3) trust and change, (4) educational impact, (5) technological challenges, (6) teaching style, and (7) privacy and security. At the micro-level, we identify three thematic clusters, namely, (1) individual, (2) institution, and (3) instrument. These themes structure the further exploration of how blockchain can impact education management and development to improve educational quality, accessibility, social inclusion, and equality.