Collaborative Project: Focused Faculty Development Workshop on Cyber Games and Interactive Simulations

越来越多的证据表明，结合动手练习，如网络游戏和交互式模拟，提高学生对信息保障（IA）研究的兴趣，并提高他们的学习经验。网络游戏是高度互动的动手练习，要求学生建立IT网络基础设施和服务，同时管理和防御现实的网络攻击。作为正在进行的合作的一部分，夏洛特夏洛特和NC AT州立大学（一个历史上的黑人机构），正在开发教师发展研讨会，参与者将学习如何将这些游戏和互动模拟纳入他们的课堂。讲习班材料以成功经验为基础，并纳入了文献中报告的最佳做法，旨在实现六个关键目标：（i）针对具有传统计算机科学背景但系统管理经验有限的教师，（ii）建立他们的教学能力，为学生提供网络游戏和交互式模拟，（iii）通过使用虚拟化技术，将机构资源承诺保持在可管理的水平，（iv）通过基于现实业务场景的挑战性练习，吸引和激励学生，（v）透过建立学生对解决实际问题技巧的信心，增加学生修读IA课程的兴趣，以及（vi）促进学生以团队合作的方式工作。研讨会的参与者包括当前的IA教师或那些从机构有强烈的兴趣，并与适当的机构承诺，介绍动手的经验，在每一个研讨会后的学年。目前正在作出特别努力，将为任职人数不足的人口服务的机构的教员包括在内。

Growing evidence indicates that incorporating hands-on exercises, such as cyber games and interactive simulations, increases student interest in Information Assurance (IA) studies and enhances their learning experience. Cyber games are highly interactive hands-on exercises in which students are asked to build IT network infrastructures and services while simultaneously managing and defending against realistic cyber attacks. As part of an ongoing collaboration, UNC Charlotte and NC A&T State University (an historically Black institution), are developing faculty development workshops where participants will learn how to incorporate these games and interactive simulations into their classes. The workshop materials, based on successful experiences as well as incorporating best practices reported in literature, are being designed to satisfy a six key objectives: (i) targeting faculty members with traditional Computer Science backgrounds with limited system administration experience, (ii) building their instructional capability to provide students with cyber games and interactive simulations, (iii) keeping institutional resource commitment at a manageable level through the use of virtualization techniques, (iv) engaging and motivating students through challenging exercises based on realistic business scenarios, (v) increasing student interests in pursing IA studies through building their confidence in hands-on problem solving skills, and (vi) promoting students to work in teams. Workshop participants include current IA faculty or those from institutions with a strong interest in, and with appropriate institutional commitment to introducing hands-on experiences during the academic year following each workshop. Special effort is being made to include faculty from institutions serving underrepresented populations.