Collaborative Research: SaTC-EDU: Integrating Cybersecurity in Computing Curricula: A Software PBL-Driven Approach with Focus on Identity and Access Management (IAM)

基于项目的学习(PBL)和其他积极的学习实践已被证明可以提高学生的积极性和参与度，提高考试成绩，并降低不及格率。该项目的总体目标是通过将身份和访问管理(IAM)主题的PBL课程贯穿现有的计算机科学相关课程，鼓励和促进真实的网络安全学习体验。学生们将致力于解决与他们在工作中遇到的类似的真实、真实的问题。这一方法将广泛地将网络安全教育扩大到所有与计算相关的学生，而不仅仅是那些注册了专门的网络安全计划的学生。该项目还旨在扩大对计算学科的参与。最终，它将提高学生的学习成果，包括个人能力、对网络安全内容的掌握和更高层次的思维能力。该项目将设计和开发一套多样化的现成的IAM主题软件课程项目，以及支持课程模块和积极的学习活动，这将使课程教师能够分配和支持带回家的PBL项目。来自多个机构的至少10名教职员工将在他们的课堂上使用开发的课程材料，结果影响到1000多名学生。将使用三种形式的形成性评估，即顾问委员会审查、本科生RA Beta测试和内部课堂试验，以收集反馈以完善开发的材料。在多个志愿者地点进行的实地测试将评估在典型教育环境中实施所开发项目的可行性。最后，一项试验性研究将评估开发的项目在改善学生学习成果方面的前景。在这些评价之后，编制的总体框架和材料将通过网站、会议记录和期刊上的出版物以及拟议的讲习班进行传播。这个项目得到了安全和值得信赖的网络空间(SATC)计划的支持，该计划为解决网络安全和隐私问题的提案提供资金，在这种情况下，特别是网络安全教育。SATC计划与联邦网络安全研究和发展战略计划和国家隐私研究战略保持一致，以保护和维护网络系统日益增长的社会和经济效益，同时确保安全和隐私。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Project-based learning (PBL) and other active learning practices have been shown to increase student motivation and engagement, raise examination performance, and reduce failure rates. The overarching goal of this project is to encourage and facilitate authentic learning experiences in cybersecurity by threading an Identity and Access Management (IAM)-themed PBL curriculum through existing computer science-related curricula. Students will work on authentic, real-world problems similar to what they will encounter on the job. This approach will broadly expand cybersecurity education to all computing-related students, not just those enrolled in dedicated cybersecurity programs. The project also aims to broaden participation in computing disciplines. Ultimately, it will improve student learning outcomes, including personal competencies, mastery of cybersecurity content, and higher-order thinking skills.The project will design and develop a diverse set of ready-to-use IAM-themed software course projects, along with supporting course modules and active learning activities, which will enable course instructors to assign and support take-home PBL projects. At least ten faculty members from multiple institutions will use the developed course materials in their classroom, impacting over 1,000 students as a result. Three forms of formative evaluation, advisory board reviews, undergraduate RA beta testing, and in-house classroom trials, will be used to gather feedback to refine the developed materials. Field tests at multiple volunteer sites will assess the feasibility of implementing the developed projects in typical educational settings. Lastly, a pilot study will assess the promise of the developed projects in improving student learning outcomes. After these evaluations, the overall framework and materials developed will be disseminated through websites, publications in conference proceedings and journals, and proposed workshops. This project is supported by the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program, which funds proposals that address cybersecurity and privacy, and in this case specifically cybersecurity education. The SaTC program aligns with the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan and the National Privacy Research Strategy to protect and preserve the growing social and economic benefits of cyber systems while ensuring security and privacy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.