This demonstration module provides an overview of the key concepts and goals of information security and how information security relates to an organization's information and technology assets. Only the demonstration module (the first of three modules) is available. The author's description of the content is true. The use of inline tests, video, and text draw the student to participate in the module and not passively read materials.
Type of Material:
This interactive, self-paced instruction uses video, audio, text, case studies, practice exercises, and quizzes to promote and guide learning and understanding. A full version is available on CD ROM.
Recommended Uses:
This appears to be an entire course module. There is no reference to use with an in-class or on-line course or as homework or study work. The demonstration module could be used as a homework assignment and class after the homework could discuss the materials
Technical Requirements:
5.0 or higher browser; Quicktime or RealMedia Plugin; Macromedia Flash Player; Plugin Audio Capabilities. The module notes these requirements in the introductory notes and provides links to the free downloads of the plug-ins.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The goal of Lesson 1 is to define the role and value of information and computer assets in a given organization. the overview of the assets is followed by successively finer distinctions (tangible vs intangible, open vs closed software source, and others) so that the overview flows into a taxonomy. The good feature is that once developed, the taxonomy becomes a good framework for future discussions. The taxonomy is presented in such a way that the hierarchy becomes intuitively easy to understand.
Target Student Population:
High School, College, Professional. This material is appropriate for end users, IT professionals, IT managers, and executives.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic computer skills and a Browser.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This is a well-conceived complete module. It contains straight facts, that makes it an excellent training tool for IS/IT employees. The module is well designed and easy to follow. All of the content issues are well served by this module.
Concerns:
It may confuses less experienced users since it requires the learner to navigate multiple links that are connected and the learner may miss some when they return to the beginning of a section. The reason why a rating of 5 was not given is that the brevity of the presentation means some aspects could not be fully covered. I would use these materials in conjunction with a lecture to expand upon materials in the module
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
As stated earlier, this would be an excellent training tool for IS/IT employees. The material connects concepts fairly well and can be an efficient training tool. The graphical layouts (accessed via mouse clicks) enforce a visual structure of the interrelated concepts that is followed in the text of the module. The visual navigation by way of the graphical choice of next steps will help students "see" relationships.
Concerns:
I could not tell if it builds on prior concepts vary well since there was only one module available for review. It does not appear to be something that would be useful in a collegiate classroom since it is designed to be a self contained module with little opportunity for outside interaction. It does not ID prerequisite knowledge and it demonstrates barely adequate relationships between concepts. Moving between "previous", "next", and "back" links versus graphical linkages might get confusing. I became lost in one section of the module,
had to go back to the beginning, then renavigate to the appropriate point in the module.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The module is well designed and easy to use. Instructions are excellent and easy to follow. It is interactive.
Concerns:
The only shortcoming in the design is the potential for missing a section when returning from a thread. Many require the learner to move through a series of links to complete a section and when the user returns there is no indication of what has been done and what is left to be completed in the section. The learner is allowed to move on to the next major section without completing the current one.
Other Issues and Comments:
Only the first module, the "demonstration" module is free.
Creative Commons:
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