Effectively Delivering Networking and Cybersecurity Education in a Rural Environment

美国经济越来越依赖高技能的信息技术专业人员，他们不仅拥有出色的基础计算机知识、技能和能力，而且还拥有保护和捍卫工商业所依赖的关键国家网络资源所需的网络安全技能。为了满足商业和工业对这些专业人员的需求，北阿肯色学院(Northark)设计了这个项目，以增加接受网络安全技术培训的熟练技术人员的数量。项目组将在现有的信息技术/网络系统管理课程中加入网络安全部分，从而加强和扩大他们的方案。该学院的商业/工业领导团队(BILT)将在制定IT课程方向方面发挥积极作用，因为他们对更多训练有素的IT/网络技术人员的需求越来越大。该项目将通过为低收入学生提供高科技工作机会，帮助农村地区劳动力多样化和经济增长。该项目的结果将改变生活，并将为许多学生及其家庭提供一条摆脱贫困的途径。Northark将在致力于该项目的网站上以及在州内、地区和国家会议上分享该项目的所有方面，包括新开发的与工商界接触的方法(BILT模式)、远程提供课程材料的方法、招收农村学生并向他们提供机会的战略以及课程改进。综合评估将确定该项目的哪些部分最有效，哪些部分需要修改。由于学院服务区和阿肯色州其他地区的许多居民，特别是农村地区的居民无法获得所需的资源，诺萨克将利用技术支持通过网络和虚拟选项远程交付课程内容，以及在卫星位置和高中扩大面对面的机会。它还将创建一个并行学分轨道，允许高中生完成IT/网络熟练程度证书，积极招募农村和高中生进入这个高科技领域，并增加一名学术/职业教练，他将提供支持，以提高保留率、学位完成率和就业安置。利用现有的NSF-ATE课程和开源材料，该学院的教职员工将调整和增强现有的带有网络安全主题的IT课程，并调整所有课程以适应远程教学。诺萨克将试行远程测试，将这种高科技课程交付给农村学生，这些学生本来没有机会获得这样的课程机会。该计划将由BILT成员和现有学生推广，学院将利用从其他ATE项目中调整的招生策略来吸引更多的学生参加这个更新的灵活交付的计划。

The United States economy is increasingly reliant on highly skilled information technology professionals who not only have excellent foundational computer knowledge, skills, and abilities, but also possess the cybersecurity skills required to protect and defend the critical national cyber resources on which business and industry rely. To address the demand of business and industry for these professionals, North Arkansas College (Northark) has designed this project to increase the number of skilled technicians who are trained in network technology with a cybersecurity focus. The project team will enhance and expand their program by infusing the existing Information Technology/Network Systems Administration curricula with cyber security components. The Business/Industry Leadership Team (BILT) at the college will play an active role in setting the direction of the IT program as they have an increased need for more highly trained skilled technicians in IT/Cyber. The project will assist in diversifying the workforce and growing the economy in rural areas by providing access to high-tech jobs for low income students. The results of this project will be life changing and will provide a pathway out of poverty for many students and their families. Northark will share all aspects of the project, including newly developed methods of engaging Business and Industry (the BILT model), methods to offer course materials remotely, strategies to recruit and provide access to rural students, and curricular improvements, on a website devoted to this project and at in-state, regional, and national conferences. A comprehensive evaluation will determine which components of the project are most effective and where modifications are needed.Because many residents in the service area of the college and other parts of Arkansas, especially those in rural areas, do not have access to the resources required, Northark will utilize technology to support remote delivery of course content through web and virtual options, as well as expanded face to face opportunities at satellite locations and high schools. It will also create a concurrent credit track to allow high school students to complete an IT/Cyber Certificate of Proficiency, actively recruit rural and high school students to enter this high tech field, and add an Academic/Career coach who will provide support that will increase retention, degree completion, and job placement. Using available NSF-ATE curriculum and open source materials, faculty at the college will adapt and enhance the existing IT program with Cybersecurity topics and adapt all curricula for distance delivery. Northark will pilot test distance delivery of this high tech coursework to rural students who do not otherwise have access to such curricular opportunities. The program will be promoted by BILT members and current students and the college will utilize recruiting strategies adapted from other ATE projects to attract more students to this updated flexibly-delivered program.