NSF Project on Puzzle-Based Learning (PBL)

Two undergraduate students (Robert Edstrom and Aaron Marshall) worked with graduate students on a research project funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop innovative games to teach cybersecurity concepts, enabling critical thinking through solving complex puzzles.

A multi-level PBL game is developed using Unreal Engine, a platform for creating cyber security exercises. During 2016, we demonstrated and distributed the PBL software at three national conferences and received excellent feedback on our cybersecurity education-focused research. Further details of this project is available at https://www.memphis.edu/cfia/pbl-sec/index.php.

Also, two undergraduate students received awards in poster presentations at 12th Annual Computer Science Research Day, 2016. Robert Edstrom got 1st Place for his research entitled Puzzle-Based Learning in Cyber Security Education; and Berkeley Willis (with Graduate Partner: Sujit Shrestha), got 3rd position for his research on Web Application Security Exercise and Testing Platform.

Awards

Robert Edstrom, an Undergraduate student got 1st Place in poster presentation for his research entitled Puzzle Based Learning in Cyber Security Education at 12th Annual Computer Science Research Day, 2016. Photo to the right with Dr. Lan Wang during presentation of award.