***NMC 2007 Poster Session Reprise*** ***University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Ð Using Simulations To Enhance Online Learning*** http://polaris.umuc.edu/de/csi/nmc/simulations.html -------------------------------------------- Introduction: Classroom theory and practical reality often come together in the laboratory, where interactive, hands-on, real-world lab exercises are a vital component of student learning. Yet physical labs and lab exercises used to teach networking, information security, criminal justice, or homeland security are not accessible or scalable solutions for students studying online. For courses in information assurance, criminal justice, and homeland security, students to learn firsthand what it is like to experience a distributed Web attack, investigate a crime scene, or respond to a terrorist attackÑall in the safety of a controlled lab environment through the use of online simulations. ______________________________________ Information About Our Poster Presentation: UMUCÕs NMC Poster Presentation features three simulations. ******** 1. Networking and Information Security Hands-On Online Lab Exercises -- UMUC chose OPNET IT Guru, available as a free Internet download to academic institutions. The software can create networking and information security scenarios using industry standard versions of actual hardware and software. UMUC students complete exercises in creating, using, and/or managing: ¥ local and wide area networks ¥ firewalls ¥ network traffic ¥ distributed Web attacks ¥ denial of service attacks ¥ video conferencing ¥ peer-to-peer file sharing ¥ network address translation Students test different network configurationsÑsuch as delay, load, utilization, and collision countsÑand observe how they affect performance. The simulations also allow students to manage hardware components, including hubs, access and border routers, modems, switches, servers, firewalls, proxy servers, workstations, while learning more about software installation and networking and information security concepts. Grades are assigned based on the studentsÕ critical thinking and analyses of networking and information security issues. This simulation is used in UMUCÕs undergraduate and graduate networking classes. ********* 2. Crime Scene Investigation -- In an on-site classroom, it is relatively simple to create a Òcrime sceneÓ that introduces students to the skills and strategies they need to collect, preserve, and document evidence. For UMUC, the challenge was to translate that experience for online students. UMUCÕs Course Development and Design team responded with a video game that has students assume the role of police officers or investigators at a crime scene, looking for physical evidence. Along the way, they learn the basics of bloodstain interpretation and gain an understanding of forensic biology and pathology. Each crime scene is different, and there is no such thing as the perfect crime scene investigation; evidence may well be left behind or irrelevant items seized in the interest of caution or because of inexperience. The material they have studied in the course comes into play as they decide which items and information from the scene would prove useful in the investigation. Later, they are required to write a comprehensive scene report, describing their actions. Students quickly learn the importance of establishing protocols to ensure competent performance on the job. This simulation is used in UMUCÕs undergraduate Introduction to Criminalistics course. ********* 3. Homeland Security Simulation: City of San Luis Rey -- The UMUC Security Studies Laboratory chose TeleologicÕs City of San Luis Rey Homeland Security learning object. The exercises allow students to assess the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure sectorsÑcommunications, power, and transportationÑin a terrorist attack on the fictional jurisdiction of San Luis Rey. Students work as teams on one of three sectors to inventory, assess, analyze, and report back with findings and recommendations to the mayor. Through the San Luis Rey exercise, students learn to identify potential countermeasures that mitigate sector vulnerabilities, assess their respective benefits, and report them to the appropriate local officials. This simulation is used in UMUCÕs Graduate Homeland Security course. ___________________________________ Benefits of having these simulations integrated into the online classroom: Through online simulations, UMUCÕs students across the world can perform practical exercises with real-world relevance in a controlled, secure learning environment, available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week -- all from the convenience of their own computers. ____________________________________ About UMUC: Founded in 1947, University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is an accredited institution focusing on the unique educational and professional development needs of adult students. Serving more than 90,000 students worldwide, UMUC currently offers approximately 600 individual online courses and more than 90 graduate and undergraduate degree and certificate programs that are available fully online. ________________________________ About The Presenters UMUCÕs Virtual Poster Session for Online Simulations is presented in Second Life by UMUCÕs Center for Support of Instruction colleagues Julie Commons (RL Gilliam), Kathleen Maloney (RL Puckett), LaTonya Carter (RL Dyer), and Joanna Foden (RL Zhang). The original presentation at NMCÕs Summer Conference was authored by UMUC Center for Support of Instruction colleagues Julie Gilliam and Towanda Jones whose work in educational and instructional support includes learning object development, faculty support and quality assurance for delivery of online courses. Their experience encompasses a wide range of skills to web, multimedia, working with synchronous and asynchronous technologies, implementing simulations, and leading global projects.