Preliminary Investigation on CDIO Incorporated Educational Reform of the Course of Network Security

The course of network security, especially the laboratory section, is reformed according to CDIO (Conceive – Design – Implement - Operate) engineering education initiative. Problems of the former course framework such as the separation between teaching and practice, shortage of laboratory equipment, and the lack of laboratory practice are identified and analyzed. An integrated new course framework which features the connection between educational environment and professional environment is proposed in this work. This new framework concentrates on the enhancement of the students’ hands-on ability, network design ability, operational and implemental ability. Additionally, soft skills such as teamwork and interpersonal skills are also improved. By applying the new framework of network security, the students’ performance and satisfaction are improved.