Volume 9, Issue 11, November – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24NOV1009

Decentralized Educational Platform

Tripti Bhardwaj, ADGIPS, Delhi
Ujjval Jain, ADGIPS, Delhi
Dr. Rupinder Kaur, ADGIPS, Delhi
Shreyan Bharadwaj, ADGIPS, Delhi
Vishu Bhandari, ADGIPS, Delhi

Abstract:- This project presents a decentralized I. INTRODUCTION

educational platform designed to enhance accessibility
and transparency in online learning through blockchain The rise of online learning platforms has made
technology. The platform operates on a unique model education more accessible and flexible globally. However,
where courses are purchased as NFTs (Non-Fungible mainstream platforms like Udemy and Coursera present
Tokens), allowing students to own a digital proof of inherent challenges, including high platform fees, mandatory
enrollment while enabling educators to receive full profit-sharing, and limited educator control over content.
compensation without third-party fees. By leveraging These platforms often impose copyright restrictions,
blockchain, the system provides secure, direct affecting educators’ ownership rights and restricting learners
transactions and transparent records, mitigating common from freely accessing purchased materials over time. This
issues such as transaction delays and profit-sharing costs. has created a demand for a transparent, equitable, and
efficient alternative that empowers educators and enhances
The platform architecture is centered around user learning experiences.
roles: students, educators, and administrators, each
having designated functions to ensure seamless This project proposes a decentralized educational
interaction. Blockchain development, frontend design, platform utilizing blockchain technology to address these
backend integration, and data management are key areas issues. By integrating Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), learners
of focus, each managed by a specialized team member. can purchase direct access to courses, ensuring that educators
Additionally, features like secure login, user-friendly retain full compensation without platform cuts. Blockchain’s
interfaces, and responsive classroom access contribute to tamper-proof ledger provides transparency, while NFTs serve
an intuitive and efficient user experience. as proof of course ownership, offering flexible access
without traditional intermediaries.
This research demonstrates the potential of
decentralized solutions in education, offering a cost- Through this decentralized model, the platform
effective, accessible, and scalable model that aligns with eliminates platform fees and enables secure, direct
the evolving demands of digital learning. The platform interactions between educators and learners. The platform
paves the way for future enhancements, including showcases blockchain’s potential in reshaping educational
expanded course offerings and AI-driven personalized systems, aligning with growing interest in decentralized
learning pathways. applications beyond finance. This research represents a
transformative step toward a more equitable, efficient
Keywords:- Decentralized Education, Blockchain educational model, offering a direct, transparent path for
Technology, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), Smart Contracts, educators and learners alike.
Educational Platform, Peer-To-Peer Learning, Direct
Transactions, Transparency in Education, Digital Proof of II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Enrollment, Student Empowerment, Educator Compensation,
Immutable Records, Course Ownership, Tokenized Learning, Blockchain technology is gaining traction as a
Decentralized Marketplace, Content Delivery Network transformative tool across various industries, including
(CDN), Data Privacy, Distributed Ledger, Secure Access education, where it has the potential to address critical
Management, Web3 in Education. challenges related to data ownership, security, and equitable
access. Existing literature highlights which traditional
educational platforms like Coursera and Udemy, though
successful in democratizing learning, have limitations such
as high platform fees, restricted educator rights, and reliance
on centralized control. These factors have led researchers to
explore blockchain as a decentralized alternative that could
resolve these issues by creating a trust less system with
transparent, secure, and accessible records of educational
transactions.

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Volume 9, Issue 11, November – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24NOV1009

Studies have shown that the integration of NFTs (Non- Enhancing User Experience: A CDN can help provide a
Fungible Tokens) within blockchain-based educational seamless learning experience by reducing buffering for video
platforms offers unique advantages. NFTs act as proof of content and speeding up page load times for global users.
ownership for digital assets, including course materials, This is especially valuable for platforms that rely on high-
which allows educators to maintain control over their quality video content for courses, where minimal latency is
intellectual property. A study by Chen et al. (2022) crucial for maintaining engagement and satisfaction.
demonstrates that using NFTs in education ensures that
content remains tamper-proof and transparent, a critical B. Technical Approach to CDN Integration
aspect for maintaining trust within online learning Decentralized vs. Centralized CDN Options: Traditional
ecosystems. Additionally, NFT-based access management CDNs (e.g., Cloudflare, Akamai) and decentralized CDNs
aligns with decentralized platforms, providing learners with (e.g., Livepeer, Theta) can both be integrated based on
verifiable proof of enrollment that cannot be altered by platform requirements. Decentralized CDNs provide an
intermediaries. additional layer of redundancy, aligning with the platform’s
core decentralized values, while traditional CDNs offer
Several research works emphasize the economic established infrastructure and reliability.
advantages of decentralized educational platforms for
educators. According to Al-Sabri et al. (2021), blockchain- Caching Strategies for Educational Content: Different
based education models enable direct transactions between types of content, such as videos, images, and metadata, can
educators and students, reducing operational costs by benefit from specific caching strategies. Static resources like
eliminating third-party fees. This model benefits educators thumbnails and text-based metadata are cached extensively,
who, in traditional setups, lose a portion of their income to whereas video content may be streamed and cached
platform fees. Blockchain’s transparent ledger also enables according to popularity and user demand.
secure, traceable payments, which strengthens the economic
viability of these platforms for educators. C. Benefits of CDN Integration
Scalability for High User Traffic: With a CDN, the
Furthermore, the user experience in decentralized platform can scale to handle spikes in user traffic without
educational platforms is enriched through enhanced security, compromising performance. This scalability is especially
transparency, and flexibility. The literature suggests that important for educational platforms, where sudden demand
students value the ability to manage their own course access surges (e.g., during live course releases) require robust
and data. This autonomy aligns with trends in digital infrastructure to maintain consistent access for all users.
ownership, where users seek more control over their personal
and educational data. Studies, including those by Johnson & Optimized Bandwidth Usage: CDNs reduce the strain
Kumar (2023), emphasize that blockchain’s inherent security on the origin servers by serving cached content, optimizing
and accessibility features make it a suitable technology for bandwidth usage and minimizing potential downtimes. This
educational systems aiming for greater inclusivity and user allows for cost-effective content delivery, balancing user
empowerment. experience with infrastructure costs.

Overall, literature on blockchain in education supports D. Future CDN Enhancements for Decentralized Education
the concept of a decentralized platform as a feasible, Edge Computing for Personalization: Future CDN
beneficial, and secure alternative to traditional models. models with edge computing capabilities can enhance
content personalization, storing data and content closer to
III. CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK (CDN) users for faster and more tailored educational experiences.
INTEGRATION FOR ENHANCED PERFORMANCE This could include AI-driven features for adaptive learning,
such as recommending courses based on previous activities
With an increase in user demand for high-quality or providing real-time feedback.
content and seamless access, integrating a Content Delivery
Network (CDN) into the platform architecture can address Integration with Decentralized Storage: Combining
potential latency and scalability challenges. CDNs are CDN with decentralized storage solutions like IPFS ensures
particularly effective for distributing educational content, as both efficient content delivery and the preservation of data
they cache data at multiple geographically dispersed nodes, integrity in a distributed network, maintaining content
reducing load times and improving the user experience. accessibility even during network fluctuations or outages.

A. Role of CDN in Decentralized Platforms

Efficient Content Distribution: In decentralized
platforms, content can be hosted in peer-to-peer or
distributed storage solutions, which may lead to inconsistent
load times depending on network availability and location.
CDNs mitigate this by caching popular content closer to the
user, reducing latency, and ensuring a reliable content
delivery experience.

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Volume 9, Issue 11, November – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24NOV1009

IV. PRIVACY AND SECURITY IN THE educators uploading courses). This reduces the likelihood of
DECENTRALIZED EDUCATIONAL unauthorized access and manipulation of core functionalities.
PLATFORM
D. Secure Transaction Processing and Financial Security
Privacy and security are critical considerations for Direct Transactions Without Intermediaries: Blockchain
blockchain-based platforms, especially those managing user enables direct transactions between students and educators,
identities, transaction data, and intellectual property. This eliminating intermediary risks such as data exposure,
platform aims to safeguard user data, secure financial transaction delays, and additional fees. This system ensures
transactions, and prevent unauthorized access to educational timely payments and transparent, low-cost transactions.
content, leveraging blockchain’s strengths while addressing
its unique privacy challenges. Transparency and Auditability: Blockchain’s immutable
ledger provides an auditable transaction history, allowing
A. User Authentication and Privacy via Wallet-Based Login both educators and students to verify purchase records
Authentication via Wallets: Users authenticate through independently. This transparency builds user trust and
cryptocurrency wallets (e.g., MetaMask), which eliminates prevents potential disputes over course ownership or
traditional login credentials like usernames and passwords. transaction validity.
This approach reduces the need to store sensitive data on the
platform, thereby minimizing risks associated with data Gas Fee Optimization: High gas fees are a concern on
breaches. many blockchains. Smart contract functions are optimized to
minimize gas consumption, with the option to utilize Layer 2
Addressing Privacy Concerns: Wallet addresses, while solutions for reduced transaction fees, faster processing
pseudonymous, do not reveal personal information, times, and scalability improvements.
preserving user privacy. When additional information (e.g.,
usernames or emails) is linked to wallet addresses for profile E. Content Access Control and Digital Rights Management
functionality, it is stored off-chain to prevent exposure on the Access Control through NFTs: Non-Fungible Tokens
immutable blockchain. (NFTs) provide proof of course ownership, granting access
only to verified NFT holders. Access controls on the
B. Data Storage and Off-Chain Information platform’s frontend ensure that only authorized users can
Off-Chain Storage for Sensitive Data: Storing view educational content, mitigating unauthorized sharing.
personally identifiable information (PII) directly on-chain
could compromise user privacy, given the public nature of Decentralized DRM Measures: While traditional DRM
blockchain. Therefore, sensitive user data is stored off-chain, is challenging to implement in a decentralized environment,
utilizing decentralized storage solutions such as the encrypted streaming solutions such as Livepeer enable secure
Interplanetary File System (IPFS) to achieve both privacy content delivery and prevent unauthorized downloads.
and accessibility. Course creators can manage and monitor content distribution,
ensuring intellectual property protection.
Encryption of Off-Chain Data: To further protect
sensitive information, off-chain data is encrypted. This F. User Data Privacy and Compliance with GDPR
ensures that even if unauthorized access occurs, the data Data Minimization and User Consent: The platform
remains unreadable without decryption keys. minimizes data collection by primarily using wallet addresses
for user identification. Any optional profile information (e.g.,
C. Smart Contract Security and Auditing email addresses) is collected with explicit user consent and
Minimizing Attack Surfaces: Given the platform’s managed according to data protection standards.
reliance on smart contracts for course purchases, enrollment,
and revenue distribution, these contracts are designed with GDPR Compliance: Blockchain’s immutable nature
minimized complexity to reduce potential vulnerabilities. poses challenges for GDPR compliance, particularly with
Solidity best practices, such as reentrancy guards and data deletion requests. To accommodate privacy rights,
restricted external calls, enhance security against common personal data is stored off-chain in decentralized storage,
attack vectors. where it can be selectively deleted if necessary.

Regular Security Audits: Smart contracts are audited by G. Future Security Enhancements
third-party security firms, who identify vulnerabilities such Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): Future upgrades may
as reentrancy attacks, overflow errors, and logic flaws. Tools incorporate zero-knowledge proofs to enhance privacy
such as MythX, Slither, and OpenZeppelin are utilized for without sacrificing transparency. ZKPs allow users to verify
routine auditing and testing, which ensures high-security data (e.g., course enrollment) without exposing wallet
standards. addresses or personal information.

Access Control Implementation: Role-based access Decentralized Identity (DID) Standards: DID protocols,
control (RBAC) is implemented within the contracts, such as those from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C),
granting specific functions only to authorized users (e.g., could offer users portable digital identities, allowing for
seamless integration across decentralized platforms while

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Volume 9, Issue 11, November – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24NOV1009

preserving privacy. This provides a more user-centric B. Scalability and Security

approach to identity management. The blockchain-based infrastructure was found to be
scalable and reliable, allowing for expansion in course
V. SYSTEM DESIGN offerings and increased user interactions without
performance issues. The decentralized nature of blockchain
The system design for the decentralized educational adds a layer of security, making it difficult for unauthorized
platform focuses on creating a scalable, secure, and user- users to access course content.
friendly infrastructure using blockchain technology. The
architecture is divided into three primary layers: the user C. User Experience
interface (UI) layer, the application layer, and the blockchain User feedback highlighted the intuitive design and
layer, each serving distinct functions to ensure efficient efficiency of the platform. Students found the purchasing and
operations. course access process straightforward, while educators
A. User Interface (UI) Layer appreciated the transparent payment system.
This layer is responsible for enabling interaction
between students, educators, and the platform. It includes D. Discussion
intuitive design elements to ensure easy navigation, allowing The platform represents a significant advancement in
students to browse, purchase, and access courses while educational technology by removing barriers such as high
enabling educators to create and manage content. Security fees and limited revenue control. However, certain
protocols, such as two-factor authentication, enhance user limitations were observed, including the potential complexity
data protection. of using blockchain wallets for first-time users. Future
development could focus on enhanced usability features,
B. Application Layer such as simplified wallet integration and more extensive
The application layer handles backend operations, payment options. In summary, this decentralized platform
including API management, data processing, and offers a scalable and equitable alternative for online
communication between the UI and blockchain layers. It is education, contributing positively to the edtech landscape.
structured to support decentralized applications (DApps),
maintaining efficient data flow and managing user VII. FUTURE SCOPE
credentials and course access.
The decentralized educational platform presents
C. Blockchain Layer significant opportunities for growth and enhancement, paving
This core layer is designed for transparency, security, the way for a more inclusive, accessible, and innovative
and data ownership. It incorporates smart contracts for course online learning environment. Key areas for future
purchases, using NFTs to manage access rights. Each development include:
transaction, such as NFT purchases and transfers, is securely
recorded on the blockchain, ensuring tamper-proof access A. Enhanced User Experience
and payment to educators. Future iterations could introduce simplified blockchain
wallet integration, reducing complexity for first-time users.
Through this layered design, the platform ensures Additionally, features like multi-language support, voice-
secure transactions, direct payment models, and reliable assisted navigation, and personalized content
access management, providing a robust decentralized recommendations could make the platform more accessible
educational ecosystem. and tailored to individual user needs.

VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS B. Expanded Payment Options

Incorporating various cryptocurrency payment options
The development and deployment of the decentralized or integrating with fiat currency gateways would make the
educational platform yielded promising results that align with platform more inclusive, appealing to a wider audience of
the project’s goals of promoting direct educator-student students and educators worldwide who may not be familiar
transactions and minimizing platform fees. By leveraging with blockchain-based payments.
blockchain technology and NFTs, the system ensures
transparent course access, secure payments, and equitable C. Advanced Data Analytics
revenue distribution. Implementing data analytics tools could help educators
gain insights into student performance, course engagement,
A. Result and learning patterns. These insights could aid in refining
The platform successfully achieved its primary course content, delivering a more personalized and effective
objectives. Educators can now list courses without incurring learning experience.
platform fees, and students can securely purchase access
through NFTs. Testing confirmed the stability of smart D. Decentralised Governance
contracts, ensuring that educators receive payments directly Moving towards a decentralized autonomous
without intermediaries. Additionally, the NFT-based course organization (DAO) structure could allow users and
access system effectively restricts classroom entry, providing educators to participate in platform decision-making,
a secure and controlled environment for each course.

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Volume 9, Issue 11, November – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24NOV1009

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