Blockchain Badging - Coursera-to-Credit

Abstract

Blockchain is a disruptive force both in finance (cryptocurrency) and higher education credentialing. UB is working on a four-course Coursera specialization that has broad market appeal for matriculated and non-traditional adult learners, nationally and globally, by providing online access to academically rigorous and specific industry-wide practices. Based on a one credit pilot course attended both by campus students and external executives, we propose developing a process to transform Coursera issued Verified Certificates into UB-branded badges. This will be coupled with a new partnership with Empire State College, where UB Computer Science faculty and external reviewers will then apply a rigorous rubric to ascertain whether an adult learner is eligible for academic credit under a prior learning assessment (PLA) process. The goal is to engage non-traditional learners and guide them into additional Micro-Credential or Degree based programs by awarding transferrable credit through the potential of a new "Coursera to Credit" process.