Development of a Competency-Based Education Program in CyberSecurity

为了满足对准备保护关键国家网络基础设施的高技能工人的需求，以及对高等教育学位或证书的更高学生完成率的要求，伊利诺伊州林肯土地社区学院（LLCC）的这个项目旨在创建一个基于能力的教育（CBE）网络安全计划。LLCC将与行业和教育合作伙伴合作，规划，开发和实施以学习者为中心的CBE计划，该计划将提高完成率，同时可能减少学生的时间和成本。该计划将建立在每个学生目前的知识基础上，并消除已经掌握的学习目标上不必要的时间和精力。由于现有的高等教育结构内开发CBE计划的研究有限，该项目包括一个全面的评估组成部分。由于许多高等教育机构，特别是社区学院正在寻找那些为CBE铺平道路的创新者，并寻求最佳实践和计划实施的建议，以更好地为学生服务，LLCC将致力于分享有关参与和完成的最佳实践和数据，以州和国家组织。部署的军队可以使用CBE计划建立在他们现有的知识和完成该计划完全离开校园作为虚拟技术的结果。由于LLCC服务于大量的农村人口，这个基于能力的计划将解决农村学生希望参与与这个重要的科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领域相关的机会所面临的障碍。该项目的目标是通过以下方式为获得网络安全证书提供一种替代交付模式：1）开发基于能力驱动评估的课程，以提供CBE网络安全证书课程，2）开发有效的学生入学流程，以评估学生在基于能力的课程中取得成功所需的技能和行为，3）为学生开发支持服务，包括咨询，经济援助，和辅导，以确保成功和完成该计划，4）实施CBE网络安全证书，以及5）评估CBE网络安全证书计划的过程和结果。LLCC将为莫雷恩社区学院的ATE系统安全和信息保障中心（CCSIA）和乔治王子社区学院的ATE国家网络监视中心提供课程内容，并为农村观众改编他们的许多材料。该计划的完成途径将包括证书，完成证书后，学生可以进入劳动力市场或继续他们的教育事业。该证书是获得副学士学位的基石，学生可以用它转学到四年制大学完成学士学位。该方案将为学生（包括当地和农村）提供有前途的机会，不仅在中学后一级，而且在中学一级通过双学分提供或社区学院的双招生。

To address the demand for highly skilled workers who are prepared to protect the critical national cyber infrastructure as well as the call for greater student completion rates of a postsecondary degree or certificate, this project at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) in Illinois is designed to create a competency based education (CBE) program in cybersecurity. Working with industry and education partners, LLCC will plan, develop and implement this learner-focused CBE program that will increase completion rates while potentially reducing the time and the cost to students. The program will build upon the current knowledge base of each individual student and eliminate unnecessary time and effort on learning objectives already mastered. Because there is limited research for CBE programs developed within existing higher education structures, this project includes a comprehensive evaluation component. Because many institutions in postsecondary education and especially community colleges are looking for innovators who have paved the path in CBE and are seeking advice for best practices and program implementation to better serve their students, LLCC will be positioned to share best practices and data regarding participation and completion to both state and national organizations. Deployed military can use the CBE program to build upon their current knowledge and complete the program entirely off campus as a result of virtual technology. Since LLCC serves a large rural population, this competency-based program will address the barriers faced by rural students wishing to participate in opportunities related to this vital science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. The project objectives are to provide an alternative delivery model for attaining a cybersecurity certificate by: 1) developing curriculum based on competency driven assessments to deliver a CBE cybersecurity certificate program, 2) developing an effective student admission process for evaluating student skills and behaviors needed to be successful in a competency-based program, 3) developing support services for students including advising, financial aid, and coaching to ensure success and completion in the program, 4) implementing the CBE cybersecurity certificate, and 5) evaluating the process and outcomes of the CBE cybersecurity certificate program. LLCC will contribute course content to the ATE Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CCSIA) at Moraine Community College and the ATE National CyberWatch Center at Prince George's Community College as well as adapt many of their materials for a rural audience. Completion pathways for this program will include a certificate and upon completion of the certificate the student can enter the workforce or continue their educational endeavors. The certificate is a building block to receiving an associate degree, which the student can use to transfer to a four year institution to complete a baccalaureate degree. This program will provide promising opportunities for students (both local and rural), not only at the post-secondary level, but also at the secondary level through dual credit offerings or dual enrollment at the community college.