Engaging Students in Basic Cybersecurity Concepts Using Digital Game-Based Learning: Computer Games as Virtual Learning Environments (original) (raw)

Overview of Learning Cybersecurity Through Game Based Systems

2019

Cybersecurity awareness and skills training are very essential and challenging. Cybersecurity in itself involves the defense of systems, networks and programs from digital attacks. These attacks are capable of gaining unauthorized access to computers and networks. Game based learning allows students have fun whilst learning by actively learning and practicing the right ways things should be done. Often, the game is started on a slow pace gradually advancing gain in skill until the student is able to successfully navigate the difficult levels. There is a constant increase in cyberattacks all over the world, an estimate of $106 Billion was recorded for cyber hacks in the United States in 2016 alone. The cybersecurity skills shortage is also posing a major concern. Hence, it has become imperative to develop a learning platform for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to learn and be further equipped by introducing cybersecurity with the concept of gaming. Some of the game...

The use of computer games for teaching and learning cybersecurity in higher education institutions

Journal of Engineering Research

In higher education, teaching cybersecurity concepts to students such as encryption-based security protocols is a challenging task, but it is fundamental for personal and national security. One of the reasons for this is related to the inadequate mathematical knowledge of students, which limits their understanding of the cryptographic algorithms underlying the protocols. Therefore, higher education institutions are seeking out engaging and effective strategies for developing students’ skills in this area. The aim of this research is to explore the use and potential effectiveness of game-based learning to assist in the teaching and learning of cybersecurity concepts in higher education. It contributes to the literature by raising public interest in cybersecurity and helping learners to understand suitable and safe behaviors online. It also offers a systematic overview of game-based learning tools that have been used in previous studies to improve students’ understanding of cryptograp...

A game-based learning experience for improving cybersecurity awareness

2020

The use of videogames is an established tool to train a systematic way of thinking that allows users to learn by gaming. In this paper, to address the increasing need of awareness in cybersecurity related issues, we present the realization of a Virtual Reality (VR) videogame targeted towards educating users in the context of cybersecurity.

Evaluation of Game-Based Learning in Cybersecurity Education for High School Students

Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 2018

Game based learning is a new game play mechanism that the players explore various aspects of game play in a learning context designed by the instructor or the game designer. Nevertheless, general acceptance of game based learning as a new learning paradigm was deferred by a lack of wellcontrolled, large sample efficacy studies. To address the increasing need of cybersecurity workforce, this paper introduces a game based learning method for high school cybersecurity education. Purdue University Northwest launched GenCyber high school summer camps to about 200 high school students in Chicago metropolitan area. The survey conducted after the summer camp indicated that the game based learning for cybersecurity education was very effective in cybersecurity awareness training. Further analysis of survey data revealed that there is a gender difference in raising students' interests in cybersecurity and computer science education using game based learning method.

Cyber Security Training and Awareness Through Game Play

2006

Although many of the concepts included in staff cyber-security awareness training are universal, such training often must be tailored to address the policies and requirements of a particular organization. In addition, many forms of training fail because they are rote and do not require users to think about and apply security concepts. A flexible, highly interactive video game, CyberCIEGE, is described as a security awareness tool that can support organizational security training objectives while engaging typical users in an engaging security adventure.

Game Based Cyber Security Training: are Serious Games suitable for cyber security training?

International Journal of Serious Games, 2016

Security research and training is attracting a lot of investment and interest from governments and the private sector. Most efforts have focused on physical security, while cyber security or digital security has been given less importance. With recent high-profile attacks it has become clear that training in cyber security is needed. Serious Games have the capability to be effective tools for public engagement and behavioural change and role play games, are already used by security professionals. Thus cyber security seems especially well-suited to Serious Games. This paper investigates whether games can be effective cyber security training tools. The study is conducted by means of a structured literature review supplemented with a general web search.While there are early positive indications there is not yet enough evidence to draw any definite conclusions. There is a clear gap in target audience with almost all products and studies targeting the general public and very little atten...