Development of Online Modules for Teaching Blockchain

Blockchain technology enables the creation of a distributed and tamper-proof ledger, even in the presence of untrusted agents. While much financial resources and attention are devoted to blockchain tools, the underlying technology is not well understood by the general population. This paper presents a newly developed online tool that allows users to learn and create their own blockchain, with a graphical user interface and code. The module is freely available on nanoHUB.org and describes all components of the blockchain, including the SHA256, Proof of Work, and other features that enable the blockchain to function as a tamper-proof ledger. This tool has been utilized to instruct students without prior knowledge of blockchain technology, and the survey of students’ responses demonstrates that this tool is an effective way of teaching the general population about blockchain technology.