The Blockchain and Kudos: A Distributed System for Educational Record, Reputation and Reward

Mike Sharples and John Domingue

Hoy traemos a este espacio este artículo de Mike Sharples and John Domingue, del Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes, y Knowledge Media Institute, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK

Abstract. The ‘blockchain’ is the core mechanism for the Bitcoin digital payment system. It embraces a set of inter-related technologies: the blockchain itself as a distributed record of digital events, the distributed consensus method to agree whether a new block is legitimate, automated smart contracts, and the data structure associated with each block. We propose a permanent distributed record of intellectual effort and associated reputational reward, based on the blockchain that instantiates and democratises educational reputation beyond the academic community. We are undertaking initial trials of a private blockchain or storing educational records, drawing also on our previous research into reputation management for educational systems. Keywords: Blockchain · Reputation management · Self-determined learning · e-portfolios · Records of achievement