#PaiRED: Privacy and SSI Identification in Education

Blockchain is built on the principles of self-sovereign identity (SSI). It can help learners manage their records by increasing control, access and transparency. Not all SSI systems are blockchain. SSI is a set of principles that support individual control over identifying information including online credentials. A person generally has multiple sets of identifying credentials from a variety of systems and applications they interact with online. Instead of a password and a user ID, SSI promotes a digital identity based on principles that create trust and assurance. The ten principles of SSI are an independent existence, user control of identity, access to your own data, systems and algorithms are transparent, identities are persistent and long lived, information and services about identity are transportable, they are as widely used as possible, users give consent for use of their identity, minimize disclosure and user rights are protected.

Blockchain is a technology that enables SSI. FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and SSI share common principles. They embrace empowering people to be informed of the information collected on them. They provide access to its use for specific purposes and assure that the data is correct and protected. Consent to share data under FERPA requires a consent form detailing a specific purpose. Individuals have the right to challenge false or misleading information and request it be amended. FERPA has put consent and security standards into play for sharing data.

Currently, blockchain is not widely used in education. When it is, it is used for storing and sharing academic records. Blockchain will begin to make a mark on education for more than credentialling. Blockchain has the ability to change the focus of education and put the learner in the center. In 2019 Credential Engine conducted research that stated more than 738,000 unique credentials are used to document learning. These are degrees, certificates, badges, apprenticeships, PEUs, CEUs and a variety of other records. Lifelong learning will become more and more vital as we move toward the Agile workplace.