Encouraging Active Learning through Multimedia & Interactive Courseware

The paper presents the architecture and preliminary design of MICS (Multimedia and Interactive Courseware for information Security), which consists of a collection of interactive multimedia animations to enhance our curriculum in trustworthy computing. Each animation illustrates some important concepts and encourages the user to examine these concepts in depth. These animations require active participation and reasoning to improve the student’s understanding and to make learning enjoyable and challenging. MICS covers the standard topics of security, privacy, reliability, and business integrity, but for each topic there is one or more projects implemented with interactive animations for the student to participate in. For each animation project, there are continuing questions requiring students to seek and record information about their sessions, and answer sheets students can use to submit their findings for a grade. These interactive animations will challenge students to examine the topics in a substantial way. Since the projects will have a detailed guide in audio or text format, they can be used as supplementary exercises for on-site programs as well as distance learning programs.