Overview
Blockchain is a decentralised digital ledger with a growing list of records called blocks, which contain timestamp data, cryptographic information and transaction details. The use of blockchain technologies in cryptocurrency has grown rapidly in recent years. Besides cryptocurrencies in the financial industry, the potential for blockchain technologies in other industries is huge. In terms of achieving sustainability, blockchain has the ability to drive business process efficiency and transparency across industries, which in turn ensures better usage of resources and creates value. This unit will introduce you to the fundamentals and impact of blockchain technologies on businesses, relevant architectures, blockchain applications, and security implications. This unit aims to provide you with a solid theoretical foundation while also providing you with an opportunity to develop your own blockchain application for solving a real-world sustainability problem in relation to one of social, economic, environmental or technological issues.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: COIT20246
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit evaluation
Some students struggled to develop their Blockchain solution.
Provide resources on Blockchain development tools and continue to demonstrate Blockchain tools during tutorials.
- Evaluate key concepts of blockchain technologies
- Analyse the benefits of blockchain technologies and their applications for promoting sustainability
- Evaluate the legal, regulatory and ethical concerns in relation to blockchain technologies
- Critically analyse infrastructure and tools for building blockchain applications
- Develop a blockchain application that solves a real-world sustainability problem
- Evaluate future directions and industry outlooks on blockchain technology and its role in sustainability.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is adopted by organisations, governments and individuals in many countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles. ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile.
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 7 (the SFIA code is included):
Sustainability Management (SUMI)
Business Process Improvement (BPRE)
Innovation (INOV)
Information Security (SCTY)
IT Management (ITMG)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
| 2 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||
| 3 - Group Work - 55% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
| 4 - Research | ||||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||
| 2 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||||
| 3 - Group Work - 55% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Access to a computer is recommended
- Geth (Go Ethereum)
- Ganache
- Node JS
- Truffle
- Visual Studio Code
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.grandhi@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Blockchain Technology
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Types of Blockchain
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cryptography
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Blockchain Network
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Blockchain Development
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Part 1 portfolio: Due this Friday
Module/Topic
Term break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Smart Contracts
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Blockchain Applications
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2: Due this Friday
Presentation Due: Week 7 Friday (1 Sept 2023) 10:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Blockchain and Cloud Computing
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Blockchain and Other Emerging Technologies - I
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Blockchain and Other Emerging Technologies - II
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Part 2 portfolio: Due this Friday
Module/Topic
Blockchain Best Practices
Chapter
Materials will be provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3: Due this Friday
Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete the unit evaluation survey
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator:
Dr Sriman Grandhi
CQUniversity Melbourne, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne 3000
1 Written Assessment
This unit uses an ePortfolio as a reflection process on your learning. We use the PORTFOLIUM system, which is accessible via the Moodle unit site.
The purpose of this assessment task is for you to develop a portfolio reflecting your understanding of the subject material. As part of this assessment, you are required to maintain an online reflective portfolio for the topics mentioned below. You need to read the relevant material(s) or reading, and complete your portfolio entry following the instructions provided on the Moodle unit website. The due date of ePortfolios are provided on the Moodle unit website.
This assessment has 2 submission parts:
Part 1- Week 5: Due on Friday midnight of Week 5
Part 2- Week 10: Due on Friday midnight of Week 10
Please refer to the unit's Moodle site for a detailed description of the task.
All marked portfolios will contribute equally to the final 25% mark. Standard University assessment guidelines and policies apply i.e. (late penalty, assessment extension, and plagiarism).
You can complete your portfolios before the due dates but feedback will not be released until 2 weeks after the due date of each portfolio. Marks and feedback on your work will be returned to you via Moodle. No comment on your work will be posted on your portfolio for viewing by the general public.
Please refer to the unit's Moodle site for a detailed description of the task.
As per the schedule presented on the Moodle unit website
Within two weeks from the date of submission
The marking criteria are based on:
· Knowledge & understanding of the topic as depicted by collection in the view
· Communication skills and information literacy as demonstrated by the discussion
· Technical literacy as demonstrated by the selection of items
· Discussion of appropriateness for inclusion in view
· References/citations included
Please refer to the unit's Moodle site for a detailed description of the task.
- Evaluate key concepts of blockchain technologies
- Analyse the benefits of blockchain technologies and their applications for promoting sustainability
- Critically analyse infrastructure and tools for building blockchain applications
- Evaluate future directions and industry outlooks on blockchain technology and its role in sustainability.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Presentation
This is a group based assessment worth 20% of the total available marks for this unit. The aim of this assessment is to improve your industry based practical research skills as well as team based working and learning, understanding about recent developments in the Blockchain area and the use of Blockchain technologies in the real world. In this assessment task, as future ICT professionals, you are required to research recent developments in the Blockchain area and prepare a presentation as a group of up to 3 members during the class time.
NOTE: Assessment item 2 has slightly different requirements for Distance (FLEX) students. For more detailed information on this assessment, please refer to the Moodle unit website.
Submission: Online - Group submission (up to 3 students in each group).
Week 7 Friday (1 Sept 2023) 10:59 pm AEST
All group members are required to submit the same assignment file(s) through the Moodle submission link.
Week 9 Friday (15 Sept 2023)
Within two weeks from the date of submission
The assessment criteria includes aspects such as:
- Insightful analysis of blockchain technologies in the context of the chosen industry.
- Audience has a clear understanding of implications of blockchain technology for the chosen industry.
- Insightful choice and application of evaluation with due consideration of the industry’s context.
- Your presentation has a strong and engaging introduction, good flow of the body of the presentation, conclusion effectively wraps up the work. Presentation structure includes title slide, conclusion or summary slide and a reference list.
- Meticulous presentation framing, e.g., ideas in point form; not in sentence form; slide numbers; footers; fast and efficient transitions; few words per slide; large font sizes; only relevant animation and images; consistent colour, fonts and layouts; contrast between text and background.
- Stage presence including well prepared, stands up straight, loud clear voice, good eye contact, does not speak too fast or too slow; appropriate use of cue cards: does not read; appropriate use of time.
- Mechanics, e.g., spelling, grammar and referencing.
The complete assessment criteria will be provided on the Moodle unit website.
- Evaluate key concepts of blockchain technologies
- Analyse the benefits of blockchain technologies and their applications for promoting sustainability
- Evaluate the legal, regulatory and ethical concerns in relation to blockchain technologies
- Critically analyse infrastructure and tools for building blockchain applications
- Develop a blockchain application that solves a real-world sustainability problem
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
3 Group Work
This assessment is worth 55% of the total available marks for this unit. The aim of this assessment item is for you to prepare a report relating to the strategies/approaches required to ensure a smooth implementation of blockchain technology solution for the chosen industry. More information relating to the description of the task and the requirements will be made available on the unit website. If you have any queries regarding this assessment, you should consult your local lecturer/tutor.
Submission: Online - Group submission (max. 3 students in each group).
NOTE: Assessment item 3 has slightly different requirements for Distance (FLEX) students. For more detailed information on this assessment please refer to the Moodle unit website.
Students who are interested in developing a Blockchain application for the chosen industry, will be given the opportunity. Please refer to the unit's Moodle site for a detailed description of the task.
As students are given the opportunity to select their group members, separate groups are not created for this assessment task. Hence, all group members are required to submit the same assessment through the Moodle submission link. Please refer to the unit's Moodle site for a detailed description of the task.
Include the names of your group members when you submit your assessment. All group members are required to submit the same presentation and handout files. All group members will receive the same mark.
On certification date
The marking criteria are based on:
· Knowledge & understanding of the topic as depicted by collection in the view
· Communication skills and information literacy as demonstrated by the discussion
· Technical literacy as demonstrated by the selection of items for discussion
· Discussion of appropriateness for inclusion in view
· References/citations included
Please refer to the unit's Moodle site for a detailed description of the assessment criteria.
Your assessment solution will be assessed mainly on your ability to:
- Analyse the challenges faced by the chosen industry
- Benefits and limitations of blockchain technologies in the context of the chosen industry
- Argument for blockchain technology, e.g., convincing, well-structured argument with due consideration of industry environment
- Design and develop a plan to adopt blockchain technology
- Organisation of your document, e.g., well-structured document
- Evaluate the legal, regulatory and ethical concerns in relation to blockchain technologies
- Develop a blockchain application that solves a real-world sustainability problem
- Evaluate future directions and industry outlooks on blockchain technology and its role in sustainability.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
