Unit rationale, description and aim
Blockchain and IoT are two emerging technologies and the convergence of these two technologies can provide a secure and robust mechanism of managing data generated by IoT devices. These two emerging technologies will disrupt existing processes across variety of industries including manufacturing, trading, shipping, the financial sector and healthcare. However, the wide scale adoption of these two technologies depends on how effectively they are integrated with each other. This unit aims to develop practical skills required to design IoT enabled blockchain solutions.
This unit will provide an overview of blockchain and IoT technologies and will cover the basics of these two technologies. In this unit, students will learn how blockchain can be integrated with IoT to securely unlock business and operational value of these two emerging technologies. In addition, students will be identifying various blockchain and IoT based applications that will drive social impacts in different sectors. These applications include food safety through supply chain tracking, reduce energy wastage, digital identity for homeless, climate monitoring, and charity fund management.
The aim of this unit is to equip students with necessary knowledge and skills required to design and develop IoT enabled blockchain applications to drive social impact.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify applications and use cases of IoT and blo...
Learning Outcome 01
Design an architectural model for an IoT enabled b...
Learning Outcome 02
Implement and test an IoT enabled blockchain appli...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Evolution of blockchain
- Blockchain features
- Blockchain vs Distributed Ledger
- Components of distributed ledger
- Consensus mechanism
- Blockchain programming
- History of IoT
- IoT landscape
- Design principles
- IoT architecture
- IoT and blockchain benefits
- Integration challenges
- IoT and blockchain use cases
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. The first assessment item includes a number of weekly practical tasks designed to apply theoretical knowledge of blockchain and IoT in a simulated environment. The second assessment item is a design report, where students will identify a suitable use-case and analyse both functional and non-functional requirements to design the architectural model. The purpose of this item is to assess students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills in designing an interoperable architectural model. The third assessment item is a practical assessment, where students will develop an IoT-enabled blockchain application based on the architectural model designed in the first assessment item. The purpose of this assessment task is to assess students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills in developing a blockchain application.
The assessments for this unit are designed to demonstrate the achievement of each learning outcome. To pass this unit, students are required to obtain an overall mark of at least 50%.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Practical Assessments Th...
Assessment Task 1: Practical Assessments
This assessment comprises a series of weekly hands-on exercises designed to immerse students in real-world applications of blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. These exercises are designed to build practical skills in deploying scalable, secure, and interoperable solutions, preparing students to contribute to emerging applications in sectors such as supply chain, energy, healthcare, and smart cities.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Practical Task
Artefact: Secure Code
30%
Assessment Task 2: Desing architectural mode...
Assessment Task 2: Desing architectural model for an IoT-enabled blockchain application
Develop professional skills through the application of theoretical knowledge and designing an architectural framework for IoT supported blockchain applications.
The purpose of this assessment is to assess students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills in designing an architectural model. Students need to identify an appropriate
application, analyse requirements, and
design an interoperable model by integrating blockchain and IoT.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Report (1000 words) + Online Viva
Artefact: Report (1000 words) + Online Viva
30%
Assessment Task 3: Develop an IoT-enabled blockch...
Assessment Task 3: Develop an IoT-enabled blockchain application
This is a practical assessment and students will be required to implement the architectural model designed in the previous assessment task.
The purpose of this assessment task is to assess students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills in developing a blockchain application.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Practical - Live/speaker view webcam overlay report presentation and Code + Online Viva
Artefact: Live/speaker view webcam overlay report presentation and Code + Online Viva
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit is offered in two delivery modes—Attendance and Online—to support diverse learning needs and maximise access for isolated or marginalised groups.
Attendance Mode
Students attend weekly face-to-face classes at designated locations and engage directly with lecturers to support achievement of learning outcomes. The unit requires preparation before workshops (typically around one hour) and at least one hour of consolidation afterwards. Online learning platforms provide additional preparatory and practice activities to reinforce learning.
Online Mode
The online mode enables students to explore core disciplinary knowledge through both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Weekly discussion activities and active learning tasks encourage the application of theoretical concepts in professional contexts. Engagement with peers supports constructive learning, and students receive regular, timely feedback throughout the semester.
Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit, including class attendance, readings, online engagement and forum participation and assessment preparation.