| NSF Org: |
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | July 21, 2017 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 21, 2017 |
| Award Number: | 1700562 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
R. Corby Hovis
chovis@nsf.gov (703)292-4625 DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | August 15, 2017 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2021 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $299,404.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $299,404.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
2425 CAMPUS RD SINCLAIR RM 1 HONOLULU HI US 96822-2247 (808)956-7800 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
HI US 96732-1694 |
| Primary Place of Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | CYBERCORPS: SCHLAR FOR SER |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
Keeping computers and information systems secure is a major challenge. Business, industry, and government need well-prepared technicians who can prevent, detect, and investigate cybersecurity breaches, and the growth of cyber-threats has created a need for many more workers who have appropriate, specific knowledge and skills. In this project, the University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) will build on the work of other NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grantees to develop a comprehensive, industry-driven program for cybersecurity education and workforce development. The project team will recruit undergraduate students from the University of Hawaii's community colleges and other institutions where cybersecurity education is limited or nonexistent; enable the students to conduct basic cybersecurity research projects that will develop their confidence and skills for a global marketplace; expose the students to real-world cybersecurity exercises, such as the annual Pooihe Cyber Security Exercise conducted alongside the Hawaii National Guard; and train high school STEM teachers on core topics in network and computer security, so that they can bring the knowledge into their classrooms and prepare their students for career pathways in information technology and cybersecurity.
The project will use problem-based learning and an online environment to educate students, community college faculty, and high school teachers from diverse backgrounds. Activities will particularly target underrepresented minorities. In particular, the project will create new cybersecurity curricula for the Internet of Things (IoT) and for the accounting, healthcare, and hospitality and tourism industries, which are important to Hawaii's economy. Outcomes will include new curricular modules that are compliant with industry standards, an increase in the number of students who enroll in cybersecurity classes and graduate with a certificate or degree in cybersecurity at UHMC, and an increase in the number of college faculty and high school teachers who teach cybersecurity topics.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The overall goals of this NSF ATE project are to: (1) Build on the groundwork from a prior NSF ATE project for a new, sustainable, comprehensive, industry-sponsored education and workforce development program focused on cybersecurity; (2) Recruit undergraduate students from University of Hawaii’s community colleges and other mainland academic institutions where cybersecurity education is limited or non-existent; (3) Train undergraduate students from under-represented groups to conduct basic cybersecurity research projects that can develop students' confidence and skills for a global marketplace; (4) Expose undergraduate students to real-world cybersecurity exercises and training programs such as the annual Po’oihe Cybersecurity Exercise conducted alongside the Hawaii National Guard; (5) Motivate undergraduate students to pursue graduate level STEM educational opportunities at the University of Hawaii Manoa College of Engineering (CoE) or similar mainland institutions; (6) Train high school STEM teachers from under-represented groups in basic concepts in cybersecurity, so that they can transfer the knowledge to their own classroom and students; and (7) Improve high school curriculum by aligning the teachers’ training with the concepts found in the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Discipline Core Ideas.
The primary objectives are to: (1) Enhance the knowledge of undergraduate students and high school (in-service and pre-service) teachers in areas of cybersecurity that are relevant and applicable; (2) Facilitate the interest level of students and teachers in basic research activities that involve cybersecurity and thereby increase their long-term commitment to the field; (3) Translate the training of high school teachers to developing industry standards-compliant curriculum modules that they can incorporate into the classroom during the academic year; and (4) Create 3 engaging cybersecurity curriculum in industries such as Accounting and Finance, Hospitality and Tourism, Healthcare, as well as topics covering the Internet of Things.
The table below contains the Outcome Measures: Targets for year three, proposed percentage of total, actual number, and actual percentage of the total. The project exceeded the quantitative projections for all targets this year except the number of teachers completing the summer workshops. Even on this measure the project exceeded the proposed percentage of the target for the year.
| Outcome Measure | Target Year 3 | Proposed % of Target for Year 3 | Actual Number | Actual % of Target |
| Number of students participating | 62 | 100% | 70 | 113% |
| Number of students completing the program | 56 | 90% | 65 | 116% |
| Number of students continuing STEM activities beyond the program | 45 | 75% | 55 | 122% |
| Number of students from under-represented populations, including women, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders | 37 | 60% | 44 | 119% |
| Number of students who continue or elect further education in STEM programs at UHMC or other higher education options | 31 | 50% | 40 | 129% |
| Number of faculty completing the academic year and summer “train-the-faculty” program | 26 | 83% | 30 | 115% |
| Number of teachers completing the summer workshops | 27 | 89% | 25 | 93% |
Overall, this project has exceeded all of their goals for all three years. Despite COVID19, this project (with adjustments) continued to make a difference in training faculty, teachers, and students in cybersecurity. The project successfully adjusted to COVID-19 by providing the summer trainings online, adjusting student topics for research, and extending part of the project as necessary. The modules were already online and did not need adjusting. The project team members are providing a valuable cybersecurity experience for students, faculty, and high school teachers.
The intellectual merit of this project is being accomplished through developing an educational model that provides an innovative approach to training a diverse group of 16 students and educators in cybersecurity methods and practices. Many of these students and educators may have a background and career interests that diverges from traditional STEM fields. This model has particularly been designed to meet the needs of students in rural areas such as Maui with underrepresented students.
The project’s broader impact is fivefold: (1) create new and/or updated curriculum that covers cybersecurity in new and diverse areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), and industries such as Accounting, HealthCare and Hospitality/Tourism; (2) provide opportunities for women and other underrepresented, undergraduate students with specialized technology content, activities and experiences which guide them to consider careers in cybersecurity and meet the prerequisite requirements for a 2- or 4-year college program; (3) increase the number of students at UHMC who enroll in cybersecurity classes and graduate with a certificate or a degree in cybersecurity; (4) train a broad cadre of university educators to allow for wider dissemination and program sustainability; and (5) create an effective and collaborative program where this model of online cybersecurity education can be disseminated across the US. The project effectively made progress toward all of these broader impact objectives.
Last Modified: 08/22/2021
Modified by: Debasis Bhattacharya
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