Cyber-Security Instructional Technology Design

As the use of innovative technologies continue to grow at rapid rate, so does the need to protect these technologies from hackers performing breaches to steal user’s data. To protect users, cyber-security awareness materials should be readily available to guide users understanding of the vulnerabilities existing in their technological devices; explore the plethora of tactics carried out by hackers to steal their data, and identify measures they can take to ensure their safety as they utilize their devices. The objective of this work is to develop cyber-security awareness materials in Google Classroom using instructional technology design principles to accommodate user learning styles while increasing cyber-security expertise. We create two courses, one focusing on introductory level cyber-security concepts and the other on advanced cyber-security concepts. Topics discussed in the module include threats, attacks, vulnerabilities, risk management, cryptography, software security, and computer networks. Instructional design models and principles such as Universal Design Learning (UDL), Paivio’s Dual Coding, Mayer and Anderson’s Contiguity Principle, and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences are applied to the development of the module’s content in an effort to accommodate user learning styles and technical expertise. Following the completion of the development of the two cyber-security courses in Google Classroom, we concluded that the courses are progressive steps to creating readily available cyber-security awareness materials for the general public.