Development of a Competency-Based Education Program in CyberSecurity

为了满足对高技能工人的需求，他们准备好保护关键的国家网络基础设施，并要求更高的学生完成高等教育学位或证书，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网络安全教育（CBE）计划。与行业和教育合作伙伴合作，LLCC将计划，开发和实施这个以学习者为中心的CBE计划，这将提高完成率，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当前的知识基础上，并消除在已经掌握的学习目标上不必要的时间和精力。由于在现有高等教育结构中开发的CBE项目的研究有限，因此该项目包括一个综合评估部分。由于许多高等教育机构，特别是社区大学正在寻找已经为CBE铺平道路的创新者，并正在寻求最佳实践和计划实施的建议，以更好地为学生服务，LLCC将定位于与州和国家组织分享有关参与和完成的最佳实践和数据。部署的军队可以使用CBE项目建立在他们现有的知识基础上，并通过虚拟技术完全在校外完成该项目。由于LLCC服务于大量农村人口，这个以能力为基础的项目将解决农村学生希望参与与这一重要科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域相关的机会所面临的障碍。项目目标是通过以下方式为获得网络安全证书提供另一种交付模式：1)开发基于能力驱动评估的课程，以提供CBE网络安全证书项目；2)制定有效的学生入学流程，以评估学生在能力为基础的项目中取得成功所需的技能和行为；3)为学生提供支持服务，包括咨询、经济援助和指导，以确保项目的成功和完成；5)评估CBE网络安全证书项目的过程和结果。LLCC将为位于莫雷恩社区学院的ATE系统安全和信息保障中心（CCSIA）和位于乔治王子社区学院的ATE国家网络观察中心提供课程内容，并为农村受众改编许多教材。该课程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努力。该证书是获得副学士学位的基础，学生可以用它转到四年制大学完成学士学位。该计划将为学生（包括本地和农村）提供有前途的机会，不仅在高等教育阶段，而且在中学阶段，通过双学分课程或社区大学的双入学。

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.