Modern Approaches to Cybersecurity Education

Course description:

Course content:

This MC module carries a workload of 3 ECTS, corresponding to a total study load of 78 hours. The MC module consists of a total of 7 online lectures (14 hours). As part of distance learning, participants will work on practical exercises preparing and presenting teaching tools (14 hours). The correctness of distance learning procedures can be verified through online consultations. The module also includes work on a semester project developed in a group of 2-3 participants (34 hours) and its goal is to design and present a cybersecurity training session. The list of lectures is given below. The remaining time is allocated to exam preparation (14 hours) and the exam itself (2 hours). The individual lectures logically follow each other.

Lecture 1 - Adult Learning Principles and Effective Methods for Cybersecurity Educators: This lecture introduces the core principles of pedagogy and adult learning, guiding participants through foundational teaching theories, learner motivation, and lesson planning. It explores the differences between child and adult learners, emphasizing andragogy, acculturation, and motivation. Participants will also learn how to define learning objectives, address diverse learner types, and design effective, engaging lessons.

Lecture 2 - Cybersecurity Training and Evaluation Methods for Students: This lecture presents interactive cybersecurity education methods, like board games, simulations, types of materials, typical infrastructure used for teaching and training, methods used in teaching cybersecurity topics, student-teacher interaction and evaluation tools to modify content to students' needs and assess learning.

Lecture 3 - Innovative Content Creation with AI and Multimedia Tools for Engaged Learning: This lecture presents different tools for image, audio and video editing and the creation of interactive and asynchronous content and digital material with a focus on learning styles, gamification, motivation and knowledge retainment. It includes the use of AI to create customized learning material.

Lecture 4 - Collaborative Tools and Interactive Presenting: This lecture evaluates various interactive cybersecurity education methods and helps participants in developing engaging and interactive teaching strategies while improving their presentation skills.

Lecture 5 - Understanding the Needs of SMEs – Crisis Communications on a Shoestring: This lecture introduces to SMEs and Their Unique Cybersecurity Challenges, Crisis Communications on a Budget: Key Principles, Internal & External Stakeholder Communications: This lecture is designed to help participants in understand the critical importance of crisis communications for SMEs facing cybersecurity incidents. With limited budgets and minimal internal expertise, SMEs are particularly vulnerable to the reputational and operational consequences of cyber-attacks. This lecture offers participants a practical, hands-on approach to teaching SME owners/managers how to prepare for, manag