Blockchain MOOC: Badging – Coursera-to-Credit
Tracks
Learning Spaces and Places
| Wednesday, May 29, 2019 |
| 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
| HUM 1043 |
Speaker
Ms. Amy Moore
Program Director
SUNY Buffalo
Blockchain MOOC: Badging – Coursera-to-Credit
3:00 PM - 3:30 PMFull Abstract
The UB Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) built on significant experience to design, develop, produce and launch a set of four MOOCs about blockchain. The combined courses, known as a specialization, are offered on the Coursera platform, which features 25 million registered users and courses from 150 universities. Within six months, the courses received the number one rated Blockchain Course according to Digital Defynd and has over 61,000 interested learners.
Following the launch, in partnership with Empire State, UB developed a “MOOC for Credit” process. Using a Professional Learning Evaluation (PLE) process rubric, UB Computer Science Faculty investigated how incoming learners may be awarded conditional credit for receiving verified certificates for the existing Blockchain specialization. The final PLE report will be used as evidence of how a MOOC may be eligible for course transfer credit within departmental and school governance processes, as determined by the faculty on a case-by-case basis.
The specialization introduces blockchain, a revolutionary technology that enables peer-to-peer transfer of digital assets without any intermediaries, and is predicted to be just as impactful as the Internet. The four courses provide learners with (i) an understanding and working knowledge of foundational blockchain concepts, (ii) a skill set for designing and implementing smart contracts, (iii) methods for developing decentralized applications on the blockchain, and (iv) information about the ongoing specific industry-wide blockchain frameworks.
The specialization covers a range of essential topics, from the cryptographic underpinnings of blockchain technology to enabling decentralized applications on a private Ethereum blockchain platform.
It is ideal for programmers and designers involved in developing and implementing blockchain applications, and anyone who is interested in understanding its potential.
As a result of its success, the project team aims to move from this foundational infrastructure of a non-credit micro-credential to credit pathway to stable and reliable content development processes that create scalable successes across SUNY. The UB collaborators are excited by the synergy across the units and with other campuses.
Following the launch, in partnership with Empire State, UB developed a “MOOC for Credit” process. Using a Professional Learning Evaluation (PLE) process rubric, UB Computer Science Faculty investigated how incoming learners may be awarded conditional credit for receiving verified certificates for the existing Blockchain specialization. The final PLE report will be used as evidence of how a MOOC may be eligible for course transfer credit within departmental and school governance processes, as determined by the faculty on a case-by-case basis.
The specialization introduces blockchain, a revolutionary technology that enables peer-to-peer transfer of digital assets without any intermediaries, and is predicted to be just as impactful as the Internet. The four courses provide learners with (i) an understanding and working knowledge of foundational blockchain concepts, (ii) a skill set for designing and implementing smart contracts, (iii) methods for developing decentralized applications on the blockchain, and (iv) information about the ongoing specific industry-wide blockchain frameworks.
The specialization covers a range of essential topics, from the cryptographic underpinnings of blockchain technology to enabling decentralized applications on a private Ethereum blockchain platform.
It is ideal for programmers and designers involved in developing and implementing blockchain applications, and anyone who is interested in understanding its potential.
As a result of its success, the project team aims to move from this foundational infrastructure of a non-credit micro-credential to credit pathway to stable and reliable content development processes that create scalable successes across SUNY. The UB collaborators are excited by the synergy across the units and with other campuses.
