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Learn about the challenges, content, assessment, and results of teaching Computer Forensics at a distance in this comprehensive workshop report from the University of Glamorgan. Blaine Price shares insights regarding teaching methods, course structure, and student outcomes.
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Teaching Computer Forensics at a DistanceHE Academy Workshop on the Teaching of Computer ForensicsUniversity of Glamorgan, 27 November 2008 Blaine PriceComputing Department Computer Forensics Course Team Chair
Outline • Background to OU and Course • Teaching Content • Assessement • Challenges for Distance Teaching • Results of First Cohort • Questions and Feedback Blaine Price, Open University
Background • OU postgraduate computing teaching methods • Single (new) course introducing computer forensics • No face-to-face tuition, no labs, no licensed software • 24 Weeks (6-8 hours/week) including time to complete assessement Blaine Price, Open University
Content • 3 weeks intro to Forensics and Investigations • 4 weeks on Legal System and laws relating to Forensics and Investigations (Civil and Criminal) • 6 weeks on techniques (Disk Imaging, Carving, Internet and Network Forensics) • 3 weeks on research and Forensic Readiness Planning Blaine Price, Open University
Assessment • Continuous Assessment: 3 assignments 10%, 15% and 25% of final grade resp. • Each requires long prose answers • Final assignment is a Forensic report + contemporaneous notes • End of Course report, FRP Design • 50% of final grade • 2,500 words plus references and appendices • double-marked • No exam Blaine Price, Open University
Challenges for Distance Teaching • Software: no lab, can’t afford licensed software! • Helix shipped as main software, Demo version of FTK for forensic analysis exercises (limited to 5,000 files), assortment of free/Internet software • Support: no lab or f-f tuition • Limited telephone/e-mail support from tutor • Peer and tutor support in course forum • Can’t support technical problems such as disk imaging Blaine Price, Open University
Results of First Cohort • 120 students started course • 116 submitted first assignment • 106 submitted second assignment • 86 submitted third assignment • 77 submitted final report • Record (low) retention! • Record (low) grades (2 distinction, 18 Merit) with grade boundaries at Senate minimum Blaine Price, Open University
Possible Explanations • CSI/Spooks/NCIS effect • Techies put off by report writing • Non-techies put off by hands-on forensics • No Exam = easy option? (not!) • Part-time forensics has low retention elsewhere? • Poor teaching/course design? Blaine Price, Open University
Future • Course will be offered twice a year, second cohort just started, half size of first cohort • General IT Law course to be developed next, then either Ethical Hacking or Advanced Forensics • Questions? • Feedback? Blaine Price, Open University