Blockchain Technology to Support Smart Learning and Inclusion: Pre-service Teachers and Software Developers Viewpoints

Abstract

In support of an open ecosystem for lifelong and smart learning, this study evaluates the perception of educational stakeholders such as pre-service teachers and blockchain developers about the feasibility of the blockchain technology in addressing the numerous gaps in the implementation of smart learning environment. This research was designed within the international project, Smart Ecosystem for Learning and Inclusion (SELI). A total of 491 pre-service teachers and 3 blockchain developers from these countries participated in the study. The study data was collected from a questionnaire and interview. Descriptive statistics and content analysis was performed on the collected data. Results from this study indicates that Blockchain technology in the educational field is rarely known, and the frequency of use is quite low. The pre-service teachers surveyed, for the most part, are unaware of the degree of effectiveness of blockchain technology in education. Blockchain developers are of the opinion that Blockchain is still new to many people and resources for education based application are very rare, even if it is there, yet not many are open-source.