Course Description:
The IDS 493: ePortfolio Project course assists students in developing a professional electronic portfolio that highlights their academic achievements, work experience, and unique skills. Through this process, students will compile and present key projects and accomplishments in a digital format. Since creating a portfolio involves various forms of media and communication, the course also introduces strategies for effectively conveying ideas in online spaces. Students will explore how to structure their portfolios to engage different audiences while considering the impact of design, content, and rhetoric in a digital environment. In addition to refining their portfolios, they will gain insight into building an online identity that extends beyond their academic journey. By the end of the course, students will have a polished portfolio that not only represents their work but also serves as a valuable tool for future career opportunities, graduate school applications, and personal branding in a professional setting.
Introduction:
My experience within the cybersecurity program here at ODU has been nothing short of amazing. I have acquired many connections, lifelong friendships, and skills and values that I will utilize in my personal and professional life. The skills and values that I cherish most are effective communication, practical and analytical application, and public engagement. All of these can be used in both personal and professional settings and will greatly benefit me going forward. I believe the public speaking course significantly increased my confidence and ability to speak fluently to my peers and others around me. All of the cybersecurity courses helped me grow and develop as a person in different ways. Some of them required practical application while others required critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Program Reflection:
What have been the most valuable learning experiences from your time at ODU? The most valuable learning experiences have come from the extracurricular activities. Being at school can be stressful, overwhelming, and discouraging. Getting together with friends and participating in various pastimes or hobbies can make a difference between a positive and negative mindset for a student. These moments make it much easier to push through and see the ultimate goal, graduation, to the end. Furthermore, these encounters build bonds and create relationships that can last a lifetime.
What obstacles have you encountered during your learning experiences? The biggest obstacles I encountered were maintaining a routine and settling down so to speak. Each semester was vastly different from the one previous, so it was hard to discover a schedule that I could use universally. I feel as though my time management would have been much better if I had been able to coordinate a strict schedule.
How did you address these issues or figure out the process as you completed the program? I took things one at a time and handled them as they came up.
How did previous courses or experiences help you complete the program? Previous courses helped me complete the program as each of them related to another in some sort of fashion. In the realm of cybersecurity, everything falls under the umbrella of information technology. Most of these courses build upon one another or utilize the same concepts and topics to further the curriculum.
Conclusion:
How were interdisciplinary methods and theories important to your understanding of your coursework? Interdisciplinary methods and theories are important in cybersecurity coursework because they provide a broader perspective on complex security issues. For example, combining computer science with psychology helps in understanding social engineering attacks, while integrating law ensures compliance with cybersecurity regulations. These approaches enhance problem-solving skills and prepare students to tackle real-world threats with well-rounded solutions.
What connections did you draw between your various courses? I took courses like network security, digital forensics, ethical hacking, and cybersecurity law. These classes each related to one another and shared similar topics and applications. For example, network security teaches how to protect systems, while ethical hacking applies those principles to find vulnerabilities. Digital forensics connects by investigating cyber incidents, and cybersecurity law ensures that security practices comply with legal regulations. Understanding these connections helps in building comprehensive cybersecurity strategies.
Why is it important to be an interdisciplinary thinker in your field of study? Being an interdisciplinary thinker in cybersecurity is important because cyber threats involve technology, human behavior, law, and policy. Understanding multiple fields helps in creating well-rounded solutions to complex security issues. It also improves problem-solving skills by allowing different perspectives to shape better defense strategies.
What will be your next steps after ODU? I will pursue a career in my degree field, but if that doesn’t pan out I would likely use my degree to become an officer in the military, specifically the Air Force.