Many consider blockchain an innovation that changes the world, while others consider it an oversized word of order. Whatever your point of view, technology – which creates an indestructible ledger on multiple computers – is not going away soon, so it can not hurt to be familiar with it.
So, the arrival of a new online learning program that explains the fundamental ideas of blockchain in a non-technical way. Entitled "Blockchain: Foundations and Use Cases", the program is a joint effort between the online learning giant Coursera and Consensys, a Brooklyn-based software company specializing in the famous blockchain known as Ethereum. The course, which costs $ 99, takes about 10 hours to complete in five weeks and offers a certificate to those who do.
"It is not about providing skills but helping the general population to understand blockchain concepts such as decentralization, consent algorithms, public keys and hash functions," said Consensys CEO Joe Lubin Fortune in an interview.
Lubin says the material is largely compiled by the presentations his company has made to businesses and governments, which hire Consensys to help their staff understand the implications of the blockchain.
While blockchain is notoriously associated with the Bitcoin cryptocurrency, its ability to create a tamper-proof record without a central authority has prompted a wide range of companies, including Microsoft and IBM, to experiment with it. The most promising cases of use include tasks such as supply chains, financial compensation and identity verification.
"We are witnessing a growing interest among our students, both by those seeking a blockchain career, and for those wishing to acquire foundational knowledge of the technology that applies to their industry – that is why these topics they entered the top 10 of Coursera's most popular courses, "said Coursera VP of Enterprise Leah Belsky in a statement.
Meanwhile, blockchain education is increasing traditional class. A recent Coinbase survey found that 42% of the top 50 universities in the world offered courses on the subject, while others offered up to ten.