Blockchain Fundamentals I
Course Description
This foundation course is designed to impart a layered understanding of the history
of blockchain technologies. A fabric of the first cryptographically secured chain
of blocks in 1991 will be interwoven with present day applications of this technology
where this innovative concept now sees 8% of CIOs introducing activate experimentation
into the companies they lead. Lessons will show how the decentralized, distributed,
and largely public ledger offers security and transparency highly sought after in
the financial marketplace, among others, where integrity is of the utmost importance.
Course Goals
The primary objective of this course is to provide a working knowledge of the history
of the blockchain since the core concepts were devised and all came together with
the birth of cryptocurrencies. While cryptocurrencies are the largest presently implemented
applicability use case for blockchain, many industries have found ways to incorporate
a decentralized ledger into their business operations. As more industries outside
of the technology sphere recognize the potential, so too will adoption levels spike
as businesses that got into computing reluctantly will so too enter blockchain reluctantly,
but, once in, will be able to clearly see the enormously superior attributes that
make the technology truly revolutionary.
Upon course completion, students will be able to answer the following learning outcomes:
- What are blockchain technologies?
- Who coined the term blockchain and what applicability did it have at various stages
of adoption in 1991, 2009, and today?
- What is decentralization and why is it important in the storage of files and ledger
entries to the integrity of a network?
- What is a blockchain ledger?
- Why does the use of trustless technology benefit the ecosystem that it’s deployed
in?
- How does the original cryptocurrency, bitcoin, incentivize users to ensure the integrity
of the decentralized ledger and protect against double-spending.
- What is a blockchain engineer?
- How do cryptocurrencies make use of blockchain technology?
- What is a SaaS and how do major corporations like IBM and Microsoft use blockchain
technology?
- What is an “oracle” and how is the use of one integral to the functioning of a smart
contract?
- Who are the people who are starting blockchain projects and what computer languages
do they employ?
- How does the blockchain revolution differ from the personal computing or internet
revolutions?
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