- University News Archive - 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock /news-archive/tag/anthony-owen/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:08:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Arkansas Teachers Learning to Educate Students in Cybersecurity from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and ADE /news-archive/2022/02/15/ade-cybersecurity-grant/ Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:08:12 +0000 /news/?p=81022 ... Arkansas Teachers Learning to Educate Students in Cybersecurity from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and ADE]]> The program, which is overseen by the , will provide free tuition for up to 60 Arkansas educators to complete a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as well as advanced computer science training from the ADE. A grant in excess of $800,000 from the ADE will provide tuition and fees for teachers to take 18 graduate-level hours in computer science and cybersecurity. Participants must be Arkansas residents who are employed by an Arkansas public school district or intend to teach within an Arkansas public school district. 鈥淲e are excited that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has joined Arkansas Tech University as a partner for the 2022 Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Educator Academy,鈥 said Anthony Owen, state director of computer science education for the Arkansas Department of Education. 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 cybersecurity track adds a greatly needed focus area. We are eager to work with the educators engaging in this opportunity as they take this knowledge back to their schools, communities, and students to develop the cyber literate workforce required for today鈥檚 constantly connected world.鈥 The CSCEA provides Arkansas residents with a starting point for new teachers to be successful by learning basic computer science; receive preparation for passing the Computer Science Content Knowledge Praxis exam; gain approval to teach high school computer science courses; earn up to 18 graduate-level credits in cybersecurity; and expand skills in specialized areas. The CSCEA expands the number of Arkansas high school teachers who can receive support for graduate-level coursework in teaching cybersecurity. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will be one of the first universities in the country to offer a graduate certificate in cybersecurity education through the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy, a collaboration of 10 institutions in nine states. It is funded by a $750,000 grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, located within the National Security Agency (NSA). 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 graduate certificate is pending approval by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Board of Trustees, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Higher Learning Commission approvals. 鈥淭he National Cyber Teaching Academy is the first of its kind in the nation,鈥 said Sandra Leiterman, managing director of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Arena and co-principal investigator on the grant. 鈥淭he state of Arkansas is providing an incredible opportunity for its teachers to earn graduate education in computer science and cybersecurity. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 graduate certificate will provide teachers with the content knowledge they need to teach dedicated cybersecurity courses in high school, as well as courses for high school concurrent credit. This education will help teachers prepare so many of our high school students for future careers in the in-demand field of cybersecurity.鈥 The ADE Office of Computer Science will provide 90 hours of training for participants. This consists of 60 hours of content for candidates who haven鈥檛 passed the Computer Science Content Knowledge Praxis exam and 30 hours of advanced training that varies based on the participant鈥檚 interests and needs. Participants who complete the initial 90 hours of training will be awarded six hours of graduate-level computer science credit and are eligible to have tuition and fees covered for 12 additional graduate hours at their selected public university partner. 鈥淭his initiative demonstrates 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 commitment to partnering with ADE and other state leaders in education and the cyber industry to create a coordinated ecosystem of cybersecurity career and educational pathways for P-20 (pre-K through graduate school) learners,鈥 said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淎s we work with educational providers, government agencies, non-profits, and industry to grow Arkansas鈥檚 knowledge economy, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will implement this model in other high-demand, high-paying fields as we work with partners in education, government, non-profits, and industry to grow Arkansas鈥檚 knowledge economy.鈥 Educators who attend 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in this program will become part of the National Cyber Teaching Academy, the first NSA graduate certificate program for high school cybersecurity educators in the country. Graduates will receive a graduate certificate that will allow them to teach high school concurrent credit courses for cybersecurity and computer science in Arkansas and beyond. “This grant will put Arkansas at the top in the nation for the percentage of high school students choosing a cybersecurity profession,” said Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淲e have the potential to develop a network of over 60 schools in Arkansas that can offer an advanced course in cybersecurity for college credit. It’s another example of Arkansas becoming a national trendsetter in computer science education.” Educators who choose this track will begin classes at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock either in the summer or fall, depending on their schedule, and will complete the graduate certificate by December 2023. Courses will include Teaching Cybersecurity, Foundations in Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Operations, and Cybersecurity Practicum. Members of the Arkansas Cyber Teaching Academy will also have access to a network of more than 100 high school cybersecurity teachers nationwide, receive practicum experience in a real cybersecurity operations environment, and have access to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Arena and its library of hands-on attack and defense scenarios tailed to the curriculum. 鈥淏oth the breadth and depth of the cybersecurity initiatives that Dr. Huff and Ms. Leiterman are leading for the Department of Computer Science establish 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as a national leader in cyber defense,鈥 said Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淎long with outstanding and well-funded research, they are developing programs to serve 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and Arkansas K-12 students, Arkansas teachers, the Arkansas workforce, and the economic development of the state.鈥 Any teachers who would like to apply for the 2022 Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Educator . The ADE Office of Computer Science will host an informational webinar with representatives from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and ATU for interested participants from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 24. Those interested may register for the event .]]> 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to offer new bachelor鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity /news-archive/2020/06/16/cybersecurity-degree/ Tue, 16 Jun 2020 16:02:20 +0000 /news/?p=77066 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to offer new bachelor鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity]]> cybersecurity in the fall 2021 semester to help meet the rising demand for cybersecurity professionals.聽 The Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity will prepare students for challenging and rewarding careers dedicated to protecting the privacy of individuals, the security of society鈥檚 infrastructure, and national security. Graduates will be prepared for positions in high-demand fields, including security architect, digital forensics analyst, security systems administrator, and security analyst. 鈥淭he Department of Computer Science has been actively involved in research and teaching in cybersecurity and information assurance for about 10 years,鈥 said Dr. Albert Baker, interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. 鈥淭he addition of a B.S. in cybersecurity is an exciting evolution of the department’s commitment to this aspect of national security. We are coordinating with the Arkansas Department of Education, representatives from Arkansas military contingents, and area industry leaders in the development of this program. Graduates of this program will be protecting all aspects of our digital lives.鈥 The new degree program will attract more government and industry jobs to the region, while helping to fill a growing need for more trained cybersecurity professionals. The estimates that there will be 1.8 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2022. 鈥淐ybersecurity is a part of the daily lives of corporations, governments, and, now with many working from home, a part of our home lives,鈥 said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. 鈥淥ur outstanding faculty are able to provide cutting edge classes and equip the cybersecurity professionals of the future. I look forward to the first graduates of this program.鈥 With the recent rise of people working at home as well as the rise in unemployment across the country, cybersecurity is more important than ever to protect online security as well as a great option for adults looking to learn new skills in a growing field. 鈥淭he studies show an expected deficit of millions of jobs in cybersecurity around the world,鈥 said Philip Huff, assistant professor of computer science and coordinator of the cybersecurity program. 鈥淭he regional need for cybersecurity professionals is strong, and it鈥檚 not something that can be easily outsourced. The workforce needs far exceed the capacity of universities to prepare enough graduates to fill the need for cybersecurity jobs. Every university is and should be looking at how to prepare students to be competitive in the cybersecurity arena.鈥 Students will also have the opportunity to work in the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Gym, a state-of-the-art, cloud-based lab that provides a scalable, accessible, and almost no-cost cybersecurity curriculum for high school students in Arkansas.
Philip Huff, left, and Sandra Leiterman, right, head the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock CyberGym. Photo by Ben Krain.

Philip Huff, left, and Sandra Leiterman, right, head the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Gym. Photo by Ben Krain.

鈥淧hilip Huff and the cyber team at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock have been great to work with,鈥 said Lee Watson, CEO and founder of the Forge Institute as well as a member of the state鈥檚 Computer Science and Cybersecurity Task Force. 鈥淭he Cyber Gym is a next-generation academic training program that will help prepare Arkansas students for much needed, high-paying jobs in cybersecurity.鈥 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has partnered with the Forge Institute to create workforce development and research opportunities as well as to provide internship opportunities for college students. 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock and The American Cyber Alliance powered by Forge Institute are building some best practices that can be replicated across Arkansas, our region, and nation,鈥 Watson said. 鈥淐ollaboration in operational research is opening doors for a variety of opportunities. These efforts in training and operations will help better position our companies and our State to defend against growing adversarial threats.鈥 The new degree also builds upon Gov. Asa Hutchinson鈥檚 emphasis on computer science in K-12 education. Students who had the opportunity to take computer science classes for years are now entering college and eager to continue their studies in a challenging and engaging curriculum. 鈥淯ndergraduate students being able to do research on computer science and computing technologies, such as with Phillip Huff at the Cyber Gym and their Cybersecurity Program, is really something that should promote institutions like 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and their programs above those that are not doing research, that are not engaging in those activities that give their students a meaningful reason for the work they鈥檙e doing,鈥 said Anthony Owen, state director of computer science at the Arkansas Department of Education. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really the difference between the theoretical approach to computer science education that I received versus a hands-on and applicable approach to teaching computer science and its important concepts.鈥漖]> Facebook launches campaign at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to promote computer science education in Arkansas /news-archive/2017/09/28/facebook-eac-techstart/ Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:02:52 +0000 /news/?p=68091 ... Facebook launches campaign at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to promote computer science education in Arkansas]]> Facebook has inspired the next generation of technology industry leaders in Arkansas with the launch of the 鈥淭ech Take Over鈥 campaign at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Nearly 200 high school students from central Arkansas attended an exciting display of virtual reality technology from the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock on Sept. 26. The high school students learned about opportunities in the computer science industry from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students and tech industry leaders during the event at the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. 鈥淭ech Take Over鈥 is part of the between Facebook and the state of Arkansas, which was announced earlier this year to generate student interest in computer science education and careers. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, , , the , and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock STEM Education Center partnered to bring a technology roadshow to five universities in the state, beginning with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淎rkansas is a very forward-thinking state with all the governor is doing to push computer science education,鈥 said Peipei Zhou, director of growth with Facebook鈥檚 TechStart program. 鈥淲e want to help the state with its advancement of computer science, and we want to provide these students with a better future.鈥 Over the next two weeks, Facebook and the Emerging Analytics Center team will bring the 鈥淭ech Take Over鈥 event to universities in Jonesboro, Magnolia, Fayetteville, and Pine Bluff. More than 100 high schools from around the state are expected to participate in the events.
Arkansas high school students learn how to use virtual reality apps developed by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Emerging Analytics Center during the Sept. 26 "Tech Take Over" event.

Arkansas high school students learn how to use virtual reality apps developed by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Emerging Analytics Center during the Sept. 26 “Tech Take Over” event.

鈥淥ne of the most exciting areas of computer science is virtual reality,鈥 said Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, director of the Emerging Analytics Center, who delivered a speech on developing virtual reality applications during the event. 鈥淓verything the students are experiencing here will go on the road to locations all across the state. We will reach over 1,000 ninth-through-12th graders around the state to get them interested in virtual reality and computer science.鈥 Facebook鈥檚 education initiative helps high school students explore computer science through modern technology. In spring 2017, Facebook donated 400 virtual reality classroom kits to 265 high schools in Arkansas. The kits included computers, cameras, and Oculus Rift equipment. In August, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced that Facebook expanded the donation and will provide virtual reality kits to all of the more than 360 public high schools. Each school will receive an Oculus Rift touch controller and 30 virtual reality viewers. Expanding computer science education was a core campaign promise for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who believes producing a tech-savvy workforce will be a boon to the state鈥檚 economy and help secure future jobs in the technology industry. In 2015, Hutchinson requiring public high schools to offer classes in computer sciences. 鈥淭his is part of Gov. Hutchinson鈥檚 campaign promise to bring computer science education to every student in Arkansas,鈥 said Anthony Owen, director of computer science education with the Arkansas Department of Education. 鈥淭his is also an aspect of his job creation promise and commitment to Arkansas. Computer science is one of the fastest growing industries. We鈥檝e already been able to expand and attract computer and technology industry companies based on our expansion of K-16 computer science education in the state.鈥 ]]>