Ethical Hacking in Information Security Curricula

Author(s):  
Zouheir Trabelsi ◽  
Margaret McCoey

Teaching offensive security (ethical hacking) is becoming a necessary component of information security curricula with a goal of developing better security professionals. The offensive security components extend curricula beyond system defense strategies. This paper identifies and discusses the learning outcomes achieved as a result of hands-on lab exercises which focus on attacking systems. The paper includes the ethical implications associated with including such labs. The discussion is informed by analyses of log data on student malicious activities, and student survey results. The examination of student behavior after acquiring these skills demonstrates that there is potentially a high risk of inappropriate and illegal behavior associated with this type learning. While acknowledging these risks and problems, the paper recommends that curricula should opt for a teaching approach that offers students both offensive and defensive hands-on lab exercises in conjunction with lecture material. The authors propose steps to minimize the risk of inappropriate behavior and reduce institutional liability.

2022 ◽  
pp. 273-287
Author(s):  
Zouheir Trabelsi ◽  
Margaret McCoey ◽  
Yang Wang

This chapter identifies and discusses the learning outcomes to be achieved because of hands-on lab exercises using ethical hacking. It discusses the ethical implications associated with including such labs in the information security curriculum. The discussion is informed by analyses of log data on student malicious activities, and the results of student surveys. The examination of student behavior after acquiring hands-on offensive skills shows that there is potentially a high risk of using these skills in an inappropriate and illegal manner. While acknowledging the risk and the ethical problems associated with teaching ethical hacking, it strongly recommends that information security curricula should opt for a teaching approach that offers students both offensive hands-on lab exercises coupled with ethical practices related to the techniques. The authors propose steps to offer a comprehensive information security program while at the same time minimizing the risk of inappropriate student behavior and reducing institutional liability in that respect and increasing the ethical views and practices related to ethical hacking.


Author(s):  
Zouheir Trabelsi ◽  
Margaret McCoey ◽  
Yang Wang

This chapter identifies and discusses the learning outcomes to be achieved because of hands-on lab exercises using ethical hacking. It discusses the ethical implications associated with including such labs in the information security curriculum. The discussion is informed by analyses of log data on student malicious activities, and the results of student surveys. The examination of student behavior after acquiring hands-on offensive skills shows that there is potentially a high risk of using these skills in an inappropriate and illegal manner. While acknowledging the risk and the ethical problems associated with teaching ethical hacking, it strongly recommends that information security curricula should opt for a teaching approach that offers students both offensive hands-on lab exercises coupled with ethical practices related to the techniques. The authors propose steps to offer a comprehensive information security program while at the same time minimizing the risk of inappropriate student behavior and reducing institutional liability in that respect and increasing the ethical views and practices related to ethical hacking.


AERA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233285842199072
Author(s):  
Jack Schneider ◽  
James Noonan ◽  
Rachel S. White ◽  
Douglas Gagnon ◽  
Ashley Carey

For the past two decades, student perception surveys have become standard tools in data collection efforts. At the state level, however, “student voice” is still used sparingly. In this study, we examine the ways in which including student survey results might alter state accountability determinations. Reconstructing the accountability system in Massachusetts, we draw on a unique set of student survey data, which we add to the state’s formula at a maximally feasible dosage in order to determine new school ratings. As we find, student survey data shift school accountability ratings in small but meaningful ways and appear to enhance functional validity. Student survey results introduce information about school quality that is not captured by typical accountability metrics, correlate moderately with test score growth, and are not predicted by student demographic variables.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Biermann ◽  
Salim Kanoun ◽  
Trond Davidsen ◽  
Robert Gray

Abstract Aims Since 2017, medical students at the University of Bergen were taught PET/CT “hands-on” by viewing PET/CT cases in native format on diagnostic workstations in the hospital. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were barred access. This prompted us to launch and evaluate a new freeware PET/CT viewing system hosted in the university network. Methods We asked our students to install the multiplatform Fiji viewer with Beth Israel PET/CT plugin (http://petctviewer.org) on their personal computers and connect to a central image database in the university network based on the public domain orthanc server (https://orthanc-server.com). At the end of course, we conducted an anonymous student survey. Results The new system was online within eight days, including regulatory approval. All 76 students (100 %) in the fifth year completed their course work, reading five anonymized PET/CT cases as planned. 41 (53 %) students answered the survey. Fiji was challenging to install with a mean score of 1.8 on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = easy, 1 = difficult). Fiji was more difficult to use (score 3.0) than the previously used diagnostic workstations in the hospital (score 4.1; p < 0.001, paired t-test). Despite the technical challenge, 47 % of students reported having learnt much (scores 4 and 5); only 11 % were negative (scores 1 and 2). 51 % found the PET/CT tasks engaging (scores 4 and 5) while 20 % and 5 % returned scores 2 and 1, respectively. Conclusion Despite the initial technical challenge, “hands-on” learning of PET/CT based on the freeware Fiji/orthanc PET/CT-viewer was associated with a high degree of student satisfaction. We plan to continue running the system to give students permanent access to PET/CT cases in native format regardless of time or location.


2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer K Lyles ◽  
Monika Oli

ABSTRACT A course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) was designed to integrate key microbiological principles and techniques into an authentic research experience in a classroom setting and was implemented in an undergraduate microbiology laboratory course. Students conducted a 6-week study in order to determine the identity and quantity of unique probiotic species from various types of kefir. This course module followed an inquiry-based pedagogical approach in which students use the scientific process to investigate an unknown question with no predetermined outcome. During each lab, relevant microbiological topics and laboratory concepts were presented. Students then performed various laboratory techniques, reinforcing the lecture material with hands-on experience. In addition, students participated in reflection through group presentation of their results, bioinformatic analysis and literature review. Based on data collected from pre- and post-study survey responses, both student knowledge and attitudes towards the topics covered improved due to participation in this CURE. Importantly, this CURE can be implemented at many levels of education, requiring only minimal resources and common laboratory equipment.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meagan Lacy ◽  
Alexandra Hamlett

PurposeIn most higher education institutions, information literacy (IL) instruction is usually considered the purview of librarians, not disciplinary faculty. However, a small but growing body of research indicates that students learn the research process best when these skills are taught in the context of a course or a discipline. For this reason, teaching faculty should share ownership of IL instruction — but how? In this case study, community college librarians explain how they successfully trained faculty to integrate IL into their English Composition courses and teach IL independently.Design/methodology/approachUsing a multimethods approach, the investigators draw on faculty interviews, student surveys, and content analysis of student essays to evaluate the impact of faculty-led IL instruction on student learning after one semester.FindingsFaculty reported that their instruction of IL was improved, and students work better as a result of their collaboration with the librarians. Compared to previous semesters, faculty perceived gains in terms of students’ ability to synthesize and cite evidence in their writing. Student survey results indicate perceived gains in their IL skills, but an assessment of their written work reveals a discrepancy between this perception and the actual application of these skills.Research limitations/implicationsBecause there is no control group, no conclusions can be drawn as to whether faculty-led IL instruction is as effective as librarian-led IL instruction or whether students’ academic performance improves due to faculty teaching IL. However, the purpose of this study is primarily descriptive. It addresses how other libraries may create a culture of shared ownership of IL instruction on their campuses.Practical implicationsThis study offers an alternative model to library instruction and suggests ways instruction librarians can prioritize their outreach and instructional efforts to maximize impact on student learning.Originality/valueWhile much has been written about how librarians can improve IL instruction, few studies mention the role of faculty. This case study starts the conversation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 648-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaya Gopalan ◽  
Georgia Bracey ◽  
Megan Klann ◽  
Cynthia Schmidt

A great deal of interest has emerged recently in the flipped classroom (FC), a student-centered teaching approach. After attending a presentation by the first author on the FC, a faculty member of a medical school in Mexico arranged for a 3-day workshop for 13 faculty members. The goal of the workshop was to train faculty to use the FC strategy in their classrooms to increase student engagement in learning. The workshop was in the FC style, where the participants would assume the role of students. Pre- and posttraining surveys were administered to examine participants’ current teaching practices and to evaluate their perceptions of the FC. The participants overwhelmingly reported the need to change their lecture-based teaching, as it was not engaging students. Their large class size, lack of technology, training, and uncertainty of the effectiveness of new teaching methods had hindered participants from changing their teaching technique. The on-site training not only allowed the entire department to work closely and discuss the new teaching approach, but also reinforced the idea of changing their teaching strategy and embracing FC teaching method. After the workshop, participants reported being determined to use the FC strategy in their classrooms and felt more prepared to do so. The post-survey results indicated that participants valued the FC training in the flipped style and wanted more of the hands-on activities. In conclusion, the 3-day faculty workshop on the FC was successful, since every participant was motivated to use this teaching method.


Author(s):  
Nataliia Serdiuk

The question of the specifics of modern distance learning remains one of the most pressing issues, especially in today's world affected by global virus pandemic. We consider the study of the use of modern educational technologies in English lexis and grammar distance learning relevant and timely. The purpose of the article is to characterize popular current educational technologies and their possibilities in distance learning of English lexical and grammatical structures, to define five most perspective online services for pupils of general secondary education institutions. Methods. The author implements the purpose with the help of theoretical (analysis and synthesis of own experience and of domestic scientists concerning the use of existing educational innovative computer technologies in English learning) and empirical research methods (observation of the educational process), together with the elements of statistical (analysis of student survey results). The results. Considering student survey results, the author’s experience, the article names and characterizes 43 modern online educational technologies in English learning, they online platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Skype, Nz.ua, ClassDojo, Moodl), online services (Google Drive, Padlet, Google Forms, Microsoft Forms, Kahoot!, Grammarly, Quizlet, Quizizz, Plickers, Socrative, Hot Potatoes, LinguaLeo, ToonDoo, Classtime, Lang-8, Сoursera, LearnEnglish, BBC Learning English, British Council LearnEnglish, Tandem, Enpodcast, Bussu), mobile apps (Memrise, Rosetta Stone, Babbel, FluentU, MindSnacks, Open Language, Mosalingua, Messenger, Telegram, Viber, WhatsАрp), virtual whiteboard (Paint, Google Slides, Bitpaper.io). The article suggests grouping these technologies according to 7 purposes of use (to conduct online English lessons in real time; to create virtual classes, lessons and tasks; to send tasks and communicate; online services for learning English vocabulary and grammar; to use a virtual board; to store works and materials of pupils; to assess and control English language skills). Conclusions. The benefit of the study is that the possibilities of online services in distance learning of English lexical and grammatical structures have been emphasized, and five the most perspective for pupils of general secondary education institutions have been defined as Moodle, Google Classroom, Google Forms, Kahoot!, Zoom.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 428
Author(s):  
Sufyan T. Al-Janabi

Information security now is considered to be cross-disciplinary and comprehensive field. It integrates the accumulation of knowledge in many disciplines like computer science, mathematics, communications, electronics, physics, etc. Thus, there has been an ongoing effort to improve the experiences in information security experimentation. Many international institutions are investigating enhanced approaches to provide hands-on learning and research environments. However, academic institutions are facing with the difficult challenge of providing lab infrastructuresthat meet the increasingly growing needs of cybersecurity training. In this paper, we report on the necessity and importance of building an effective national testbed for cybersecurity experimentation. We also present a general top-level architecture for this testbed emphasizing the most important enabling technologies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-206
Author(s):  
Constance L. Milton

Metaphors are widely understood concepts or structures of human understanding undergirded with transformational creativity. The usages of metaphors are ubiquitous; they are used to convey unique meaning messages in healthcare disciplines. This article begins an ethical straight-thinking discussion of the defining aspects of metaphors and their usage in the discipline of nursing. The humanbecoming paradigm is used to discover new meanings of the metaphor hands-on and its ethical implications for understanding in the discipline of nursing.


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