Effectively Delivering Networking and Cybersecurity Education in a Rural Environment

美国经济越来越依赖于高技能的信息技术专业人员，他们不仅拥有优秀的基础计算机知识，技能和能力，而且还拥有保护和捍卫企业和工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，北阿肯色州学院（Northark）设计了这个项目，以增加接受网络技术培训的熟练技术人员的数量，重点是网络安全。该项目团队将通过将现有的信息技术/网络系统管理课程与网络安全组件相结合来增强和扩展其计划。该学院的商业/行业领导团队（BILT）将在设定IT计划的方向方面发挥积极作用，因为他们越来越需要IT/网络方面受过更高培训的熟练技术人员。该项目将通过为低收入学生提供高技术工作机会，协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摆脱贫困的途径。Northark将分享该项目的各个方面，包括新开发的参与商业和工业的方法（BILT模式），远程提供课程材料的方法，招募和提供农村学生的策略，以及课程改进，在专门用于该项目的网站上，以及在州，区域和国家会议上。全面评估将确定该项目的哪些组成部分最有效，以及需要修改的地方。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，以及在卫星地点和高中扩大面对面的机会。它还将创建一个并行的信用轨道，让高中生完成熟练的IT/网络证书，积极招募农村和高中学生进入这个高科技领域，并增加一个学术/职业教练谁将提供支持，将增加保留，学位完成和就业安置。利用现有的NSF-ATE课程和开源材料，学院的教师将调整和增强现有的IT课程与网络安全主题，并调整所有课程的远程交付。诺萨克将试点测试远程交付这种高科技课程的农村学生谁没有其他方式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项目改编的招聘策略，以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.