- The program easier to use than finding the right book or freely-available resource
- It provides better learning than simply reading a book or using open courseware, perhaps utilizing different learning styles or game-based learning
- It is comprehensive and will provide "equivalent" knowledge to an associate's/bachelor's degree
- It provides student-to-student interaction and perhaps a cohort learning model
- It provides a volunteer "mentor" or "facilitator" (who works for bitcoin tips?)
- It is endorsed by people who know what they are doing
- It is built around a community that offers "badges" or something to encourage completion
- It can be transferred at a later date for actual college credit
- The content fits a specific niche where free learning material is difficult to find
Also, I would suggest that you use either a Ning network or Moodle/Sakai for the "courses" if you want them to be more robust, otherwise wikispaces offers wikis with forums, which may be helpful. I am experienced in Moodle and could help if you go that route.
If you're going to start with the bitcoin community, you might actually create "courses" that teaches about bitcoin. You might also do tech-related courses (solar/programming/hardware), since bitcoin followers seem to be more tech-oriented than the general public.
names: coincollege.org, bituniversity.org, btclearn.org
