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Changes in Business Communication Approximately 557,100 new jobs are projected to be added in the tech industry between 2016 and 2026. Certainly, those more tech-savvy students will have no trouble. Please click on the post title to continue reading the full post. Thanks (and thanks for subscribing)!]. Collaboration & Brainstorming Free Tools & Resources MORE
“ Looking Ahead to 2026: Trends in Technology and Education ” ( slides ) focused on trends other than technology, since the conference covered tech so extensively. Last week I participated in the EDUCAUSE annual conference in the midwestern American city of Indianapolis. MORE
By 2026, the U.S. Congress is proposing an innovative approach to building the federal technology talent pipeline for computer science roles, one that should be exciting for schools and students. On June 14, 2019, Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Tx.), Rob Bishop (R-Ut.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), MORE
Also, the debt was structured so that the district was making interest-only payments until 2026, increasing the overall cost of the loan. John Brazeal, chief financial officer at Fox C-6 School District, at Fox Middle School in Arnold, Missouri. Whitney Curtis for The Hechinger Report. MORE
I recently availed myself of the chance to join and learn from many of the leading innovators and thinkers in the emerging blockchain industry at the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s DC Blockchain Summit 2016 , which billed itself (accurately, I think) as “a dialogue at the intersection of industry, regulation, and innovation.” The event had a strong financial services theme, although I met audience members engaged in a wider array of fields (including healthcare and social media). Given the growing interest in the topic and recent blockchain-related announcements specific to education by organizations such as Sony , MIT Media Lab , and the Holberton School – to say nothing of the visions advanced by BadgeChain , the KnowledgeWorks Foundation , and Learning is Earning 2026 – I thought it might spur some interesting dialogue if I took the time to share my current musings on the topic. To that end (and based on my DC Blockchain Summit experience), here is my current list of the top 10 things to know about the future of blockchain in education. One , with the release of a new book ( BLOCKCHAIN REVOLUTION: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World ) from Don and (his son) Alex Tapscott coming in May 2016 focused exclusively on the potential of blockchain, expect to hear much more about the technology in the popular press. Both Don and Alex spoke eloquently at the Blockchain Summit about the topic, and while the Tapscott’s are decidedly optimistic about the technology’s present and future, I also was struck by their calls to ensure that the technology is implemented in ways that generate positive social benefit, most especially for those who are currently disenfranchised in this country and around the globe. I am eagerly awaiting the chance to read the book. Two , Bitcoin serves as the most prominent proof-of-concept that blockchain technology can work. Currently, over $6 billion in value is stored in the Bitcoin blockchain, which itself is secured by roughly 7,000 nodes (individual computers simultaneously connected via the internet to the Bitcoin blockchain) distributed across the world (according to current estimates by Bitnodes ). However, Bitcoin is not synonymous with blockchain, nor is it even necessarily the best example or tool for every blockchain application. In fact, there is tremendous innovation in the blockchain field right now, with numerous entrepreneurs and technologists piloting enhancements to the Bitcoin blockchain. This continuing innovation is particularly important, because some of the technical and governance challenges facing the Bitcoin blockchain are real doozies. Three , blockchain technology is – at its core – a federated, cloud-based database. Unlike other databases with which you may be familiar, a blockchain database preserves the history of every change ever made, is fault tolerant, encrypted, and immutable. Multiple parties are required to approve changes, while unauthorized changes (and hacks) are rejected. It is these key features that together provide the trust in the database (whether it exists on the public interent or on a private intranet) that leads people to see it as a mechanism to store and transfer goods and information of value. As the hype picks up and new exciting names and edu-brands get bandied about, never forget: blockchain is just a (special) database. Four , there are pros and cons to building applications on top of public (permissionless) blockchains, like Bitcoin. Chief among the benefits are the number of nodes already working to maintain and secure the blockchain. (This is one of the features of this technology and why a public blockchain like Bitcoin’s can actually be more secure than a database on a private server). Cons of public blockchains are likely to include the fact that most were not designed to support third-party applications as their main use case and therefore may not be optimized for their use and/or hold out the possibility of forking in ways that break third-party applications at some point in the future. Public blockchains – from the perspective of public institutions like schools – also bring with them the baggage of their main use case (which for many is as a virtual currency). Moreover, I’d be surprised if many schools would be willing to associate themselves in any way with some of the unsavory characters of the crypto-currency world. It is for all these reasons that many of the experts at the Blockchain Summit predicted that companies and institutions new to blockchain would first deploy private (permissioned) blockchains , at least until they are more comfortable with the technology. While private blockchains require custom development and a commitment to navigating the security requirements (including ensuring the availability of a sufficient number of distributed, always-on nodes), they can be built specifically to suit their primary use cases. Five , given the fact that public policy regimes (regulations and laws) are routinely challenged by the introduction of new technologies, some will be interested in tracking the development and implementation of blockchain-related policy in DC and the states (and around the world). The good news is that there are two organizations already dedicated to that very task: The Coin Center , a non-profit research and advocacy center focused on the public policy issues facing cryptocurrency technologies such as Bitcoin; and, The Chamber of Digital Commerce , the first Washington, DC-based trade association representing the digital asset industry. For what it may be worth, I’ve also seen (very) occasional pieces on blockchain-related topics from the big think tanks (including Brookings, Cato, and New America). Expect more to come as the technology implementation matures. Six , for those that are tech-savvy and interested in learning more about the technology underlying blockchains or even in deploying it yourself, it is now easier than ever. Here are some easy ways to get started: Get involved with the open source Hyperledger Project. Administered by the Linux Foundation , the project “is a collaborative effort created to advance blockchain technology by identifying and addressing important features for a cross-industry open standard for distributed ledgers that can transform the way business transactions are conducted globally.” Spin up a test blockchain network in one click (after registration) via IBM Bluemix. IBM appears to be positioning itself as a major player in the design and deployment of enterprise blockchain technology. Download and run one of the many ( literally hundreds ) of altcoin nodes, such as Ethereum (optimized for ‘smart contracts’), or the socially-conscious Gridcoin or Curecoin (which – in different ways – encourage users to devote computing resources to computationally-intense science projects while they secure their blockchains). Many of these altcoins maintain a robust user community that would provide an entry into the wider world of blockchain technology. (In full disclosure: I’ve been running a node on the Gridcoin network myself for the greater part of a year and it has greatly helped increase my understanding of the underlying technology. If the value of Gridcoin rose to be worth what Bitcoin is worth, I could buy a whole lot of nice things. Also, I’ve heard pigs might someday fly. I am not offering investment advice, I am not pumping Gridcoin, and I am not encouraging you to be silly with your money. Spend a little time/money, learn a lot.). If you are ready to pull the trigger on your own education blockchain application and are daunted by the prospect of building and maintaining it yourself, you can even hire people (like IBM or these guys or maybe these guys ) to help you design and deploy your own private blockchain. Just note that most everyone is focused first on financial services use cases. Seven , beyond understanding at least in a general way how the distributed database technology that powers blockchain works, it is important to understand the general types of problems facing institutions (like schools) that blockchains appear to be good at solving. According to IBM, these include: eliminating paperwork. updating/re-engineering (“extinguishing antiquated”) processes. creating transparency. So, while we can imagine ways to disrupt and disintermediate schools via blockchain (each with various non-trivial policy/regulatory and social challenges to overcome), the most likely scenarios to take root (in my opinion) will be those that allow schools to be more efficient and responsive. This parallels how it appears to me that blockchain is playing out in the financial services sector: as near as I can tell, global banks and stock exchanges are not dumping their assets to buy Bitcoin (or deploy Bitcoin-based services), they are deploying blockchain technology to make their current offerings better and more efficient. Eight , understand where blockchain technology seems to be getting traction (or has clear or potentially promising use cases): the transfer of money (i.e., remittance) , including the buying and selling of products; holding title in property (or other assets) ; voting ; identity management ; and. smart contracts. What big categories of use cases did I miss? Nine , given all this, let’s call the question: what are the most likely scenarios for big implementations of blockchain in education? Is it likely to be this (seemingly) benevolent, disruptive future for education and the workforce imagined by the ACT Foundation and the Institute for the Future ? Or, are solutions more likely to focus on re-engineering ponderous bureaucratic ‘back-office’ operations (where Blythe Masters, late of JP Morgan Chase, argues the opportunity is – along with representatives of IBM, NASDAQ and others I heard on stage at the DC Blockchain Summit)? As I think about big, paperwork-laden problems in the education sector that are ripe for re-invention, these are some that come to mind (from an admittedly U.S. K-12 perspective): Student transcript/degree/test score/record validation and transfer, including those associated with college admissions. Student mobility within and across states is a big issue. Consider, too, international students interested in studying in the U.S. (or U.S. students interested in studying abroad). Lots of paperwork, existing databases, and challenges that blockchain could streamline. (And, at the risk of kicking a hornet’s nest of sorts, I’d set badges , enhanced student records , credit for informal learning, and the connection to workforce participation aside. There are other issues facing those ideas gaining traction that have nothing to do with blockchain technology, and I think much headway could be made with ‘traditional’ student records management without cutting off innovation for the future). Educator credentialing/certification/re-certification (including across state and national lines). Given issues with tracking teacher background checks you could deal with that, too. Management and tracking of school assets (like property, buses, furniture, textbooks, library books/journals, and technology). Schools lose track of things – all the time. If we want to push this use case out even further, school assets on an education blockchain could even be insured via smart contracts. Management of student privacy and parental opt in/opt out permissions. Given efforts to manage identity on the blockchain, it is conceivable that such a system could provide parents (and students themselves, when they are of age or as appropriate) with much more fine-grained control of who and under what circumstances their information is shared (and only what is necessary to share). Anyone who thinks the current state-of-the-art is working well just isn’t paying attention. Lots of upside. Management of special education/school lunch/attendance records. Ok, I get that this is a grab bag of ideas, but they share certain characteristics: each of these issues involves a huge amount of paperwork, that passes through many hands, that begs to be streamlined and made more efficient. Distribution of federal/state programmatic funds or private grants. The benefits of distributing funds this way is that they would be easily and immediately auditable and could allow funders to target their support to needy populations directly with a much slimmed down bureaucracy. Done right, it could even help slay the ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ dragon. Distribution and payment of student loans , including support for various repayment schemes via smart contracts. There are dozens of big ideas to pursue for education blockchains that would serve to make education institutions more transparent, more efficient, and more responsive. Oh, and here’s the real kicker for blockchain boosters: there is zero reason for most of the people involved in these process improvements – from policymakers to administrators to those on the front lines – to ever know they are running blockchain technology. They used to do work in one set of databases. Some day they will do new work in another set of better databases. As people transition from one to the other, they will even run shadow databases/blockchains to ensure that the transition from old to new functions as expected. Ten , most of the current focus of blockchain is on building and transferring value. It is predominantly a financial services industry product, growing as it has from the success of Bitcoin as a currency/asset. However, if this technology is to serve social good, save taxpayer dollars, and help us better focus resources on improving outcomes for students, it will have to be by design. It is conceivable that blockchain technology could be deployed in ways that decrease privacy, increase government oversight and regulation of schools and learning, either reify or introduce new modes of structural discrimination, and cost taxpayers not less but more money to operate schools. That is a scary prospect and one for which we all will need to hold education policymakers accountable. One place to start is in better understanding this new technology. There are fascinating and powerful ideas underlying this technology. I fully expect to continue tracking its evolution and implementation across sectors – and hope to be able to remain engaged directly in its application in education. So, please share your ideas and questions by leaving a comment below. Expect future posts from me as new ideas and issues arise. Personally, I remain optimistic and can’t wait to see where we will take it. The post 10 Things To Know about the Future of Blockchain in Education appeared first on EdTech Strategies. Blog Credentialing Distributed Computing Trends #DCSummit Alex Tapscott Badges Bitcoin Blockchain Chamber of Digital Commerce Coin Center Curecoin Don Tapscott Ethereum Gridcoin Hyperledger Project IBM MORE
percent between 2016 and 2026 and to offer an average of 126,600 open jobs each year during that time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. MORE
Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 24 % from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Computing is an integral part of every aspect of our lives, from how we connect with each other to the way we do our jobs and get around. MORE
The 2018 median salary for this work was in the mid $90,000s, with anticipated job growth of 9% from 2016 to 2026. The 2018 median salary for this work was in the upper $90,000, with anticipated job growth of 28% from 2016 to 2026. MORE
A typical agriculture worker makes $22,540 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , and mechanization has steadily reduced demand for them; the government projects zero growth in agriculture through at least 2026. High school students sit in a rural Mississippi school classroom. MORE
In addition to the ERM training, the school received a Universal Literacy Coach, part of New York City’s Universal Literacy Initiative , a citywide effort to get 100 percent of all second-graders reading at grade level by 2026. “So MORE
The pool of 18-year-olds is starting to decline— with precipitous declines in certain regions forecast to begin in 2026. MORE
Here are some related resources to share with your colleagues or to use for staff development: The STEM 2026 Vision. MORE
The report, STEM 2026 , pulls from the work of experts in science, technology, engineering and math, and the authors point out that current conditions do not ensure equal access to STEM teaching and learning. The ideal future of U.S. MORE
By 2026, futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that humans and machines will converge. Q&A: Rod Houpe Uses Evidence to Drive Change in Schools. jena.passut_7651. Tue, 05/29/2018 - 16:28. As the CIO at Cleveland Metropolitan School District , Rod Houpe manages the implementation of a huge IT vision and strategic plan. He knows firsthand what it’s like to merge technology and pedagogy. MORE
The number of workers needed in the construction trades nationally is expected to rise 11 percent through 2026, far faster than other occupations, or by 747,600 new jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says. MORE
By 2026, the department estimates , 57 percent of college students will be women. By 2026, nearly 57 percent of college students will be women. MORE
percent between 2016 and 2026 and to offer an average of 126,600 open jobs each year during that time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. MORE
Between 2015 and 2026, enrollment is projected to increase 11 percent. MORE
The financial crisis of 2008 was tough for the country, but the real impact will hit colleges in the year 2026. It turns out those fiscal anxieties a few years ago coincided with a dramatic "birth dearth"—a reduction in the number of children born, which means that the number of kids hitting traditional college age will drop almost 15 percent around 2026. MORE
will grow 28 percent by 2026. will grow 28 percent by 2026. In an effort to get more girls at Red Bank to participate in the cybersecurity challenge, teacher Mandy Galante, center, recruited girls from nontech classes, including a dozen from a creative writing class. “We MORE
Fast forward 18 years to 2026 and we see that there are fewer kids reaching college-going age.” Only a handful of states, colored in blue, are predicted to see an increase in the number of students attending regional four-year colleges and universities between 2012 and 2029. MORE
The number of software developer jobs is expected to grow 24% between 2016 and 2026, and there are currently over a half million job openings. Welcome to our “Innovators Worth Watching” series, spotlighting interesting and potentially disruptive players across a spectrum of industries. The software development industry is in a bit of a bind. MORE
He estimated that nearly one in three new jobs created through 2026 will require education beyond high school. Adley Nyakora, a freshman at Minnesota State University, Mankato, plays Operation, while Cornelius Bright, Elijah Calderon-Pitchford, Aburrahman Guantai, and Jordan Headley look on. Kelly Field for The Hechinger Report. MANKATO, Minn. Adley Nyakora, 18, bends over the body of a bloated man in polka-dot boxers, examining a bucket lodged in the patient’s knee. MORE
As online retail has disrupted brick-and-mortar stores over the past couple of decades, analysts have realized that stores in the US are overbuilt for demand. American higher education is facing a similar problem. MORE
Did you know that demand for computer support specialists is projected to grow 11% from 2016–2026 , which is faster than the average for all occupations? MORE
For Face the Future, we’re going to fast-forward a decade to the year 2026. This Sunday and Monday, join our partner Facing History for Face the Future , a global virtual game about what the future of empathy might look like, and how that impacts our choices today. MORE
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the need for information security analysts is estimated to grow 28 percent through 2026, much faster than other occupations. New Analysis of Personalized Learning Program Shows Reading Gains for Chicago Students. MORE
On Thursday (October 29) I’m presenting on Looking Ahead to 2026: Trends in Technology and Education. This October I’ll be presenting, participating, networking, schmoozing, reconnecting, and generally hob-nobbing with people at the EDUCAUSE 2015 conference in Indianapolis. Here are some of my events: A pre conference workshop, Building an Emerging Technology and Futures Capacity in Your Organization. MORE
I’ve read and discussed both the KnowledgeWorks Foundation report, Learning on the Block , and Learning is Earning 2026 , the latter of which was introduced by Jane McGonigal on the keynote stage at SXSWedu. Blockchain technology may seem magical, but it is not magic. MORE
We want to totally redesign K–12 education for all 286 school districts in Kansas by 2026.” MORE
Over the last decade, workers with education beyond the bachelor’s degree have continued to be rewarded with higher wages –and employment in master’s-level occupations is projected to grow at the fastest rate of any level, 17 percent, between 2016 and 2026, according to U.S. MORE
The health care industry is expected to add the most jobs by 2026, and, together with the social assistance sector, will account for 4 million new jobs — one-third of all new positions, according to the BLS estimates. MORE
The two-year pilot program would begin in the 2021-22 academic year, and the university systems would be required to report back about the pilot to the California Legislature in 2023 and 2026. University students in California could soon be able to delay paying college tuition until after they graduate and land a job. MORE
Its Department of Labor and Industry in 2016 forecast 120,000 baby boomer retirements through 2026, and a supply of only half as many workers as will be needed. Students in a nursing class at Missoula College in Montana. MORE
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2016 and 2026, employment will grow by 10 percent for jobs that require a bachelor’s degree – faster than the growth projected for all occupations. Sign up for our Higher Education newsletter. Choose as many as you like. Weekly Update. MORE
The field of computer and information technology is expected to grow by 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, among the fastest of any occupation, according to the U.S. MORE
2026 Related Topics 
EmergingEdTech
JUNE 14, 2018
Changes in Business Communication Approximately 557,100 new jobs are projected to be added in the tech industry between 2016 and 2026. Certainly, those more tech-savvy students will have no trouble. Please click on the post title to continue reading the full post. Thanks (and thanks for subscribing)!]. Collaboration & Brainstorming Free Tools & Resources
Wisewire
JUNE 9, 2019
Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 24 % from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Computing is an integral part of every aspect of our lives, from how we connect with each other to the way we do our jobs and get around.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
EdNews Daily
JULY 31, 2019
The 2018 median salary for this work was in the mid $90,000s, with anticipated job growth of 9% from 2016 to 2026. The 2018 median salary for this work was in the upper $90,000, with anticipated job growth of 28% from 2016 to 2026.
The Christensen Institute
DECEMBER 13, 2018
The pool of 18-year-olds is starting to decline— with precipitous declines in certain regions forecast to begin in 2026.
The Hechinger Report
OCTOBER 31, 2017
The health care industry is expected to add the most jobs by 2026, and, together with the social assistance sector, will account for 4 million new jobs — one-third of all new positions, according to the BLS estimates.
ExcelinEd
SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
Did you know that demand for computer support specialists is projected to grow 11% from 2016–2026 , which is faster than the average for all occupations?
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Leadership Lounge
MARCH 18, 2018
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the need for information security analysts is estimated to grow 28 percent through 2026, much faster than other occupations. New Analysis of Personalized Learning Program Shows Reading Gains for Chicago Students.
The Hechinger Report
AUGUST 23, 2018
Between 2015 and 2026, enrollment is projected to increase 11 percent.
MIND Research Institute
MARCH 30, 2017
Here are some related resources to share with your colleagues or to use for staff development: The STEM 2026 Vision.
The Hechinger Report
NOVEMBER 7, 2019
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2016 and 2026, employment will grow by 10 percent for jobs that require a bachelor’s degree – faster than the growth projected for all occupations. Sign up for our Higher Education newsletter. Choose as many as you like. Weekly Update.
Edsurge
JULY 8, 2019
By 2026, the U.S. Congress is proposing an innovative approach to building the federal technology talent pipeline for computer science roles, one that should be exciting for schools and students. On June 14, 2019, Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Tx.), Rob Bishop (R-Ut.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.),
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The Hechinger Report
JULY 2, 2019
The field of computer and information technology is expected to grow by 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, among the fastest of any occupation, according to the U.S.
Edsurge
APRIL 8, 2019
Over the last decade, workers with education beyond the bachelor’s degree have continued to be rewarded with higher wages –and employment in master’s-level occupations is projected to grow at the fastest rate of any level, 17 percent, between 2016 and 2026, according to U.S.
The Christensen Institute
APRIL 3, 2018
The number of software developer jobs is expected to grow 24% between 2016 and 2026, and there are currently over a half million job openings. Welcome to our “Innovators Worth Watching” series, spotlighting interesting and potentially disruptive players across a spectrum of industries. The software development industry is in a bit of a bind.
techlearning
AUGUST 30, 2018
We want to totally redesign K–12 education for all 286 school districts in Kansas by 2026.”
The Hechinger Report
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
Fast forward 18 years to 2026 and we see that there are fewer kids reaching college-going age.” Only a handful of states, colored in blue, are predicted to see an increase in the number of students attending regional four-year colleges and universities between 2012 and 2029.
The Hechinger Report
APRIL 13, 2018
will grow 28 percent by 2026. will grow 28 percent by 2026. In an effort to get more girls at Red Bank to participate in the cybersecurity challenge, teacher Mandy Galante, center, recruited girls from nontech classes, including a dozen from a creative writing class. “We
Edsurge
MARCH 20, 2019
The two-year pilot program would begin in the 2021-22 academic year, and the university systems would be required to report back about the pilot to the California Legislature in 2023 and 2026. University students in California could soon be able to delay paying college tuition until after they graduate and land a job.
Bryan Alexander
JULY 28, 2015
On Thursday (October 29) I’m presenting on Looking Ahead to 2026: Trends in Technology and Education. This October I’ll be presenting, participating, networking, schmoozing, reconnecting, and generally hob-nobbing with people at the EDUCAUSE 2015 conference in Indianapolis. Here are some of my events: A pre conference workshop, Building an Emerging Technology and Futures Capacity in Your Organization.
Edsurge
APRIL 17, 2018
The financial crisis of 2008 was tough for the country, but the real impact will hit colleges in the year 2026. It turns out those fiscal anxieties a few years ago coincided with a dramatic "birth dearth"—a reduction in the number of children born, which means that the number of kids hitting traditional college age will drop almost 15 percent around 2026.
Doug Levin
AUGUST 1, 2016
I’ve read and discussed both the KnowledgeWorks Foundation report, Learning on the Block , and Learning is Earning 2026 , the latter of which was introduced by Jane McGonigal on the keynote stage at SXSWedu. Blockchain technology may seem magical, but it is not magic.
Doug Levin
MARCH 10, 2016
I recently availed myself of the chance to join and learn from many of the leading innovators and thinkers in the emerging blockchain industry at the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s DC Blockchain Summit 2016 , which billed itself (accurately, I think) as “a dialogue at the intersection of industry, regulation, and innovation.” The event had a strong financial services theme, although I met audience members engaged in a wider array of fields (including healthcare and social media). Given the growing interest in the topic and recent blockchain-related announcements specific to education by organizations such as Sony , MIT Media Lab , and the Holberton School – to say nothing of the visions advanced by BadgeChain , the KnowledgeWorks Foundation , and Learning is Earning 2026 – I thought it might spur some interesting dialogue if I took the time to share my current musings on the topic. To that end (and based on my DC Blockchain Summit experience), here is my current list of the top 10 things to know about the future of blockchain in education. One , with the release of a new book ( BLOCKCHAIN REVOLUTION: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World ) from Don and (his son) Alex Tapscott coming in May 2016 focused exclusively on the potential of blockchain, expect to hear much more about the technology in the popular press. Both Don and Alex spoke eloquently at the Blockchain Summit about the topic, and while the Tapscott’s are decidedly optimistic about the technology’s present and future, I also was struck by their calls to ensure that the technology is implemented in ways that generate positive social benefit, most especially for those who are currently disenfranchised in this country and around the globe. I am eagerly awaiting the chance to read the book. Two , Bitcoin serves as the most prominent proof-of-concept that blockchain technology can work. Currently, over $6 billion in value is stored in the Bitcoin blockchain, which itself is secured by roughly 7,000 nodes (individual computers simultaneously connected via the internet to the Bitcoin blockchain) distributed across the world (according to current estimates by Bitnodes ). However, Bitcoin is not synonymous with blockchain, nor is it even necessarily the best example or tool for every blockchain application. In fact, there is tremendous innovation in the blockchain field right now, with numerous entrepreneurs and technologists piloting enhancements to the Bitcoin blockchain. This continuing innovation is particularly important, because some of the technical and governance challenges facing the Bitcoin blockchain are real doozies. Three , blockchain technology is – at its core – a federated, cloud-based database. Unlike other databases with which you may be familiar, a blockchain database preserves the history of every change ever made, is fault tolerant, encrypted, and immutable. Multiple parties are required to approve changes, while unauthorized changes (and hacks) are rejected. It is these key features that together provide the trust in the database (whether it exists on the public interent or on a private intranet) that leads people to see it as a mechanism to store and transfer goods and information of value. As the hype picks up and new exciting names and edu-brands get bandied about, never forget: blockchain is just a (special) database. Four , there are pros and cons to building applications on top of public (permissionless) blockchains, like Bitcoin. Chief among the benefits are the number of nodes already working to maintain and secure the blockchain. (This is one of the features of this technology and why a public blockchain like Bitcoin’s can actually be more secure than a database on a private server). Cons of public blockchains are likely to include the fact that most were not designed to support third-party applications as their main use case and therefore may not be optimized for their use and/or hold out the possibility of forking in ways that break third-party applications at some point in the future. Public blockchains – from the perspective of public institutions like schools – also bring with them the baggage of their main use case (which for many is as a virtual currency). Moreover, I’d be surprised if many schools would be willing to associate themselves in any way with some of the unsavory characters of the crypto-currency world. It is for all these reasons that many of the experts at the Blockchain Summit predicted that companies and institutions new to blockchain would first deploy private (permissioned) blockchains , at least until they are more comfortable with the technology. While private blockchains require custom development and a commitment to navigating the security requirements (including ensuring the availability of a sufficient number of distributed, always-on nodes), they can be built specifically to suit their primary use cases. Five , given the fact that public policy regimes (regulations and laws) are routinely challenged by the introduction of new technologies, some will be interested in tracking the development and implementation of blockchain-related policy in DC and the states (and around the world). The good news is that there are two organizations already dedicated to that very task: The Coin Center , a non-profit research and advocacy center focused on the public policy issues facing cryptocurrency technologies such as Bitcoin; and, The Chamber of Digital Commerce , the first Washington, DC-based trade association representing the digital asset industry. For what it may be worth, I’ve also seen (very) occasional pieces on blockchain-related topics from the big think tanks (including Brookings, Cato, and New America). Expect more to come as the technology implementation matures. Six , for those that are tech-savvy and interested in learning more about the technology underlying blockchains or even in deploying it yourself, it is now easier than ever. Here are some easy ways to get started: Get involved with the open source Hyperledger Project. Administered by the Linux Foundation , the project “is a collaborative effort created to advance blockchain technology by identifying and addressing important features for a cross-industry open standard for distributed ledgers that can transform the way business transactions are conducted globally.” Spin up a test blockchain network in one click (after registration) via IBM Bluemix. IBM appears to be positioning itself as a major player in the design and deployment of enterprise blockchain technology. Download and run one of the many ( literally hundreds ) of altcoin nodes, such as Ethereum (optimized for ‘smart contracts’), or the socially-conscious Gridcoin or Curecoin (which – in different ways – encourage users to devote computing resources to computationally-intense science projects while they secure their blockchains). Many of these altcoins maintain a robust user community that would provide an entry into the wider world of blockchain technology. (In full disclosure: I’ve been running a node on the Gridcoin network myself for the greater part of a year and it has greatly helped increase my understanding of the underlying technology. If the value of Gridcoin rose to be worth what Bitcoin is worth, I could buy a whole lot of nice things. Also, I’ve heard pigs might someday fly. I am not offering investment advice, I am not pumping Gridcoin, and I am not encouraging you to be silly with your money. Spend a little time/money, learn a lot.). If you are ready to pull the trigger on your own education blockchain application and are daunted by the prospect of building and maintaining it yourself, you can even hire people (like IBM or these guys or maybe these guys ) to help you design and deploy your own private blockchain. Just note that most everyone is focused first on financial services use cases. Seven , beyond understanding at least in a general way how the distributed database technology that powers blockchain works, it is important to understand the general types of problems facing institutions (like schools) that blockchains appear to be good at solving. According to IBM, these include: eliminating paperwork. updating/re-engineering (“extinguishing antiquated”) processes. creating transparency. So, while we can imagine ways to disrupt and disintermediate schools via blockchain (each with various non-trivial policy/regulatory and social challenges to overcome), the most likely scenarios to take root (in my opinion) will be those that allow schools to be more efficient and responsive. This parallels how it appears to me that blockchain is playing out in the financial services sector: as near as I can tell, global banks and stock exchanges are not dumping their assets to buy Bitcoin (or deploy Bitcoin-based services), they are deploying blockchain technology to make their current offerings better and more efficient. Eight , understand where blockchain technology seems to be getting traction (or has clear or potentially promising use cases): the transfer of money (i.e., remittance) , including the buying and selling of products; holding title in property (or other assets) ; voting ; identity management ; and. smart contracts. What big categories of use cases did I miss? Nine , given all this, let’s call the question: what are the most likely scenarios for big implementations of blockchain in education? Is it likely to be this (seemingly) benevolent, disruptive future for education and the workforce imagined by the ACT Foundation and the Institute for the Future ? Or, are solutions more likely to focus on re-engineering ponderous bureaucratic ‘back-office’ operations (where Blythe Masters, late of JP Morgan Chase, argues the opportunity is – along with representatives of IBM, NASDAQ and others I heard on stage at the DC Blockchain Summit)? As I think about big, paperwork-laden problems in the education sector that are ripe for re-invention, these are some that come to mind (from an admittedly U.S. K-12 perspective): Student transcript/degree/test score/record validation and transfer, including those associated with college admissions. Student mobility within and across states is a big issue. Consider, too, international students interested in studying in the U.S. (or U.S. students interested in studying abroad). Lots of paperwork, existing databases, and challenges that blockchain could streamline. (And, at the risk of kicking a hornet’s nest of sorts, I’d set badges , enhanced student records , credit for informal learning, and the connection to workforce participation aside. There are other issues facing those ideas gaining traction that have nothing to do with blockchain technology, and I think much headway could be made with ‘traditional’ student records management without cutting off innovation for the future). Educator credentialing/certification/re-certification (including across state and national lines). Given issues with tracking teacher background checks you could deal with that, too. Management and tracking of school assets (like property, buses, furniture, textbooks, library books/journals, and technology). Schools lose track of things – all the time. If we want to push this use case out even further, school assets on an education blockchain could even be insured via smart contracts. Management of student privacy and parental opt in/opt out permissions. Given efforts to manage identity on the blockchain, it is conceivable that such a system could provide parents (and students themselves, when they are of age or as appropriate) with much more fine-grained control of who and under what circumstances their information is shared (and only what is necessary to share). Anyone who thinks the current state-of-the-art is working well just isn’t paying attention. Lots of upside. Management of special education/school lunch/attendance records. Ok, I get that this is a grab bag of ideas, but they share certain characteristics: each of these issues involves a huge amount of paperwork, that passes through many hands, that begs to be streamlined and made more efficient. Distribution of federal/state programmatic funds or private grants. The benefits of distributing funds this way is that they would be easily and immediately auditable and could allow funders to target their support to needy populations directly with a much slimmed down bureaucracy. Done right, it could even help slay the ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ dragon. Distribution and payment of student loans , including support for various repayment schemes via smart contracts. There are dozens of big ideas to pursue for education blockchains that would serve to make education institutions more transparent, more efficient, and more responsive. Oh, and here’s the real kicker for blockchain boosters: there is zero reason for most of the people involved in these process improvements – from policymakers to administrators to those on the front lines – to ever know they are running blockchain technology. They used to do work in one set of databases. Some day they will do new work in another set of better databases. As people transition from one to the other, they will even run shadow databases/blockchains to ensure that the transition from old to new functions as expected. Ten , most of the current focus of blockchain is on building and transferring value. It is predominantly a financial services industry product, growing as it has from the success of Bitcoin as a currency/asset. However, if this technology is to serve social good, save taxpayer dollars, and help us better focus resources on improving outcomes for students, it will have to be by design. It is conceivable that blockchain technology could be deployed in ways that decrease privacy, increase government oversight and regulation of schools and learning, either reify or introduce new modes of structural discrimination, and cost taxpayers not less but more money to operate schools. That is a scary prospect and one for which we all will need to hold education policymakers accountable. One place to start is in better understanding this new technology. There are fascinating and powerful ideas underlying this technology. I fully expect to continue tracking its evolution and implementation across sectors – and hope to be able to remain engaged directly in its application in education. So, please share your ideas and questions by leaving a comment below. Expect future posts from me as new ideas and issues arise. Personally, I remain optimistic and can’t wait to see where we will take it. The post 10 Things To Know about the Future of Blockchain in Education appeared first on EdTech Strategies. Blog Credentialing Distributed Computing Trends #DCSummit Alex Tapscott Badges Bitcoin Blockchain Chamber of Digital Commerce Coin Center Curecoin Don Tapscott Ethereum Gridcoin Hyperledger Project IBM
The Hechinger Report
AUGUST 8, 2017
By 2026, the department estimates , 57 percent of college students will be women. By 2026, nearly 57 percent of college students will be women.
Educator Innovator
NOVEMBER 10, 2016
For Face the Future, we’re going to fast-forward a decade to the year 2026. This Sunday and Monday, join our partner Facing History for Face the Future , a global virtual game about what the future of empathy might look like, and how that impacts our choices today.
EdTech Magazine
MAY 29, 2018
By 2026, futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that humans and machines will converge. Q&A: Rod Houpe Uses Evidence to Drive Change in Schools. jena.passut_7651. Tue, 05/29/2018 - 16:28. As the CIO at Cleveland Metropolitan School District , Rod Houpe manages the implementation of a huge IT vision and strategic plan. He knows firsthand what it’s like to merge technology and pedagogy.
Bryan Alexander
NOVEMBER 3, 2015
“ Looking Ahead to 2026: Trends in Technology and Education ” ( slides ) focused on trends other than technology, since the conference covered tech so extensively. Last week I participated in the EDUCAUSE annual conference in the midwestern American city of Indianapolis.
The Hechinger Report
JANUARY 24, 2019
percent between 2016 and 2026 and to offer an average of 126,600 open jobs each year during that time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Hechinger Report
NOVEMBER 7, 2018
Its Department of Labor and Industry in 2016 forecast 120,000 baby boomer retirements through 2026, and a supply of only half as many workers as will be needed. Students in a nursing class at Missoula College in Montana.
The Hechinger Report
APRIL 22, 2019
Also, the debt was structured so that the district was making interest-only payments until 2026, increasing the overall cost of the loan. John Brazeal, chief financial officer at Fox C-6 School District, at Fox Middle School in Arnold, Missouri. Whitney Curtis for The Hechinger Report.
The Hechinger Report
JULY 9, 2018
In addition to the ERM training, the school received a Universal Literacy Coach, part of New York City’s Universal Literacy Initiative , a citywide effort to get 100 percent of all second-graders reading at grade level by 2026. “So
The Christensen Institute
OCTOBER 3, 2019
As online retail has disrupted brick-and-mortar stores over the past couple of decades, analysts have realized that stores in the US are overbuilt for demand. American higher education is facing a similar problem.
The Hechinger Report
JANUARY 18, 2018
A typical agriculture worker makes $22,540 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , and mechanization has steadily reduced demand for them; the government projects zero growth in agriculture through at least 2026. High school students sit in a rural Mississippi school classroom.
The Hechinger Report
APRIL 23, 2018
The number of workers needed in the construction trades nationally is expected to rise 11 percent through 2026, far faster than other occupations, or by 747,600 new jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.
MindShift
JANUARY 24, 2019
percent between 2016 and 2026 and to offer an average of 126,600 open jobs each year during that time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Hechinger Report
JANUARY 14, 2019
He estimated that nearly one in three new jobs created through 2026 will require education beyond high school. Adley Nyakora, a freshman at Minnesota State University, Mankato, plays Operation, while Cornelius Bright, Elijah Calderon-Pitchford, Aburrahman Guantai, and Jordan Headley look on. Kelly Field for The Hechinger Report. MANKATO, Minn. Adley Nyakora, 18, bends over the body of a bloated man in polka-dot boxers, examining a bucket lodged in the patient’s knee.
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