ON-DEMAND COURSE – SYLLABUS
BLOCKCHAIN FOUNDATIONS
Duration: 15 Hours
Delivery: Online On-Demand / Self-Paced Mentor Supported – 15 Hours
Instructor(s): Bryant Nielson, Adi Ben-Ari, Kartik Natarajan
Office Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Email: studentsupport@blockchainhub360.com
Prerequisites: None
Continuing Education Units: 1.5
Microcredential Exam: Blockchain Foundations
Certification Body: Blockchain Certification Association
Course Overview:
This course is an introduction to the world of blockchain, bitcoin and distributed ledgers. You will learn the basics, look at how blockchain works, explore Bitcoin, review blockchain’ s brief and fascinating history, and show you the practical usage of this technology. The objective of the course is to provide a solid foundation for those looking to gain a deeper understanding and learn how it will affect nearly all business areas. With a firm focus on, but not entirely limited to the finance industry we will look at use cases that are already in the market, as well as emerging use cases set to alter how we operate businesses, and safeguard our personal information.
Course Composition:
Online On-Demand: Blockchain Foundations Modules 1 – 15
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize what blockchain is, and what it is not (it’s not bitcoin!)
- Understand blockchain fundamentals and how the technology will disrupt most industries
- Distinguish Public vs Private blockchains
- Identify key blockchain resources and communities
Demonstration of Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of the Blockchain Foundations course students will be able to understand and articulate the core concepts of Blockchain technology that are, or soon will be, commonly used across most industries to solve large-scale problems and invent new ways of conducting business.
Evaluation: Evaluation is based on participation and a final exam.
Weighted:
50% participation
50% on the final grade
80% overall grade is required in order to receive a Certificate of Completion.
Grading Policy: Pass or Fail. No Credit (NC).
Attendance Requirements:
Students are expected to complete all online self-paced modules and assessments. Certificate of Completion will not be issued until all online modules are complete, including the final exam.
Student conduct and etiquette:
Students will be expected to be courteous in their conduct and communications to the instructor and classmates at all times whether such conduct or communication is in person, by telephone or electronic communications.
Behavior that persistently or grossly interferes with instructor or other student activities is considered disruptive behavior and may be subject to disciplinary action. Such behavior inhibits other students’ ability to learn and an instructor’s ability to teach. The instructor may require a student responsible for disruptive behavior to leave the learning environment pending discussion and resolution of the problem and may report a disruptive student to the Student Affairs Office
Note: Disruptions, or any other distraction in the learning environment may result in a failing grade.
Course Evaluations
Course evaluations and program surveys are important components of the educational process. Students are encouraged to complete the student course evaluation form issued at the conclusion of the course. The evaluation is anonymous.
Computer/Information Literacy Expectations for Students enrolled in this class
Students in this class are expected to:
- Use a word processing program for writing assignments (e.g., Microsoft Word)
- Be able to access assigned websites through the internet
- Have access to PC or mobile device for participation in course content
Course Module Overview:
BLOCKCHAIN FOUNDATIONS
Module 1: Blockchain Basics 1
Origins of Blockchain
Disintermediation
How Bitcoin Works
Other Consensus Methods
Module 2: Blockchain Basics
Public vs Private Blockchains
Hybrids
Permissioned vs Permissionless
Module 3: Cryptography
Terms and Definitions
Hash Functions
Module 4: Blockchains Security
Blockchain Security – a primer
Consensus engines on Blockchains
Decentralization of computing architectures
Module 5: Accessing Utilities KU and TX and Wallets
Public / Private Keys / Wallets
Passphrase-Encrypted Wallets (AKA BIP38)
Multisig
Module 6: Blockchain Smart Contracts
Data
Permissions
Tokens
Solidity
Module 7: Blockchain Pros & Cons
Speed, cost and latency
Throughput
Public vs Private Blockchains
Open source vs proprietary
Module 8: Current State of Blockchain
Bitcoin Blockchain
Ethereum / Eris / Tendermint / BigChainDB
Hyperledger
Module 9: Review of Public Blockchain apps
InsurEth
Augur
Digix
Module 10: Governments & Regulation
Who regulates it?
Currently regulatory landscape
US, UK and EU government view
Module 11: Use case deep dive
Blockchain in global financing
Use of blockchain to create efficient interactions
Blockchain used to resolve business interactions
Central Banks use of Blockchain
Module 12: DAO
How does it work
How was it funded
What happened with the DAO attack?
What are the ramifications of the DAO attack?
Module 13: Regulatory Reporting
What is regulatory reporting
RegTech – a deeper look
Transaction reporting via the blockchain
Simplify complex systems
Module 14: Breakout Session
Payments / Remittances
Provenance
Identity
Module 15: – The Future of Blockchain
The Future – A vision statement
Threat or opportunity?
The future of Banking and Finance
Blockchain applications in Finance
Adoption of Blockchain by Central Banks
The Distributed Autonomous Organization