Exploration of a Collaborative Virtual Computer Laboratory (CVCLAB) to Enhance Distance Learning in Information Security

探索协作虚拟计算机实验室（CVCLAB）以增强信息安全中的远程学习

• 批准号: 1044800
• 负责人: Abdullah Konak
• 金额: $ 15.42万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-10-01 至 2014-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1044800&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Exploration; Collaborative; Virtual; Computer; Laboratory

Five campuses of the Pennsylvania State University system partner to explore a Virtual Computer Laboratory (VCL) that has been specifically designed for cybersecurity education. The overall goal of the project is to enhance information security education by using VCL, with a particular focus on distance learning, and to research the effectiveness of this approach.The main motivation of the project is to investigate whether quality distance learning can be achieved in a field such as cybersecurity which requires a significant amount of hands-on learning and teamwork. The project proposes innovative ways to share a virtual computer laboratory across multiple institutions to enhance student learning in different settings. The main research hypotheses are: (a) student learning can be improved at a higher degree when collaborative learning is supported by a VCL and (b) if proper interventions are implemented, distance learning students can benefit from collaborative hands-on learning mediated by a VCL. The outcomes will be assessed by: (i) measuring increased student interest and motivation; (ii) evaluating the impact of collaborative hands-on learning on distance learning students; and (iii) documenting increased hands-on learning at the participating institutions, due to the adoption of the Collaborative Virtual Computer Laboratory (CVCLAB). CVCLAB is being shared and tested by a broad range of institutions. The proposed resource-sharing partnership model is transferable to smaller campuses and community colleges with limited financial and technology resources. The outcomes of the formulated research on collaborative distance learning using VCLs have the potential to improve the quality of distance learning in cybersecurity.

宾夕法尼亚州立大学系统的五个校区合作开发了一个专门为网络安全教育设计的虚拟计算机实验室（VCL）。该项目的总体目标是通过使用VCL加强信息安全教育，特别是远程学习，并研究这种方法的有效性。该项目的主要动机是调查在需要大量实践学习和团队合作的网络安全领域是否可以实现高质量的远程学习。该项目提出了在多个机构共享虚拟计算机实验室的创新方法，以提高学生在不同环境中的学习。主要的研究假设是：（a）学生的学习可以提高在更高的程度时，合作学习的支持下，VCL和（B）如果实施适当的干预，远程学习的学生可以受益于合作动手学习的VCL介导的。将通过以下方式评估成果：（一）衡量学生兴趣和积极性的提高;（二）评价合作实践学习对远程学习学生的影响;（三）记录参与机构由于采用合作虚拟计算机实验室而增加的实践学习。CVCLAB正在被广泛的机构共享和测试。拟议的资源共享伙伴关系模式可转移到财政和技术资源有限的较小校园和社区学院。使用VCL的协作远程学习的制定研究的结果有可能提高网络安全远程学习的质量。