| Module Title: | Blockchain Technology |
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| Language of Instruction: | English |
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| Teaching & Learning Strategies: |
The teaching and learning strategies used in the module are a combination of traditional lectures and laboratory exercises. The laboratory exercises include group work and peer review. The module covers a number of threshold concepts that are explicitly highlighted for the students. |
| Module Aim: |
The module provides a broad understanding of blockchains and distributed ledgers, including consensus protocols, digital assets, scalability and privacy. The module puts particular emphasis on practical skills and blockchain implementations in real-life applications. |
| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to: |
| LO1 |
Understand and describe the most prevalent forms of blockchains and distributed ledgers, including their consensus protocols. |
| LO2 |
Investigate and critically appraise the possible applications and use cases for blockchain technology. |
| LO3 |
Design and implement blockchain-based applications that involve tokens, smart contracts and/or timestamping. |
| Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
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| No recommendations listed |
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. |
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. |
| No requirements listed |
Module Content & Assessment
| Indicative Content |
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Blockchain Taxonomies
Decentralised vs. distributed vs. centralised systems, permissionless vs. permissioned systems
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The Building Blocks of Blockchain Technology
Peer-to-peer networks, gossip protocols, blocks and transactions, UTXO vs. account based transaction models, digital signatures, consensus protocols, proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, permissioned voting, Sybil attacks
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Issuing and Managing Digital Assets
Fungible tokens, e.g., currency, utility tokens, governance tokens, token economies; non-fungible tokens, e.g. certifications, collectibles, domain names; smart contracts; decentralised applications; oracles
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Scalability and Privacy
Payment channels, digital identity and pseudonymity
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Other Applications
Notarization, e.g., timestamping
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
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| Continuous Assessment | 25.00% |
| Project | 50.00% |
| Practical | 25.00% |
| Continuous Assessment |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Short Answer Questions |
The students will answer a series of short questions that test their knowledge of consensus protocols, the issuance and management of digitals assets and real-world use cases. |
1,2 |
25.00 |
Week 7 |
| Project |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Project |
The students will complete an individual project in the form of a decentralised application. The application will rely on a blockchain for some of its functionality. |
2,3 |
50.00 |
Week 12 |
| Practical |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Practical/Skills Evaluation |
The students will complete weekly practicals and submit their work for assessment. |
1,2,3 |
25.00 |
End-of-Semester |
| No End of Module Formal Examination |
SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
12 Weeks per Stage |
1.00 |
| Laboratory |
12 Weeks per Stage |
2.00 |
| Independent Learning |
15 Weeks per Stage |
5.93 |
| Total Hours |
125.00 |
Module Delivered In
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