SimBLEND Overview

SimBLEND research is intended to produce an innovative and commercially-viable Simulation-Based Learning Environment for Network Defense (SimBLEND) that couples computer-based instruction with computer game-based simulations. Research will also examine alternative training simulation strategies that may be availed through national cybersecurity test beds and other synthetic data generation systems tailored for CND that have been developed in other government programs, and which may yield significant opportunity to improve decision-making effectiveness.

SimBLEND and SCORM

Instructional standards are key to cross-service use, as well as content reuse among schools and instructors within the cyber security community. SCORM(R)is one such standard.

The Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM). We support such standards, and in particular our experience with SCORM encourages us to incorporate it into this research. There are some concerns in the industry about the suitability of SCORM to this sort of application; these concerns will be taken into account, as SCORM in its current version provides at best only a framework within which to embed SimBLEND metadata and operations.

SCORM was developed to meet DoD’s needs in training for specific systems and situations by people who are not generally in full-time education. Prior research suggests that SCORM may have a limited pedagogical model unsuited for some environments, including the higher-education approach suggested by AFRL researchers.  However, Secure Decisions' experience in the CND environment suggests that we consider specific individual initial-entry training needs related to practical CND decision-making, which we believe to be especially suited for delivery by the objective integrated training system, and which are consistent with SCORM. We will evaluate CND learning objectives and related operational and training contexts to distinguish subjects that are well-suited for development under SCORM from those where SCORM may not be effectively applied.

Learn more about SCORM at the ADL web site.


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