Mary DeVito
ABSTRACT
We describe a research program in cybercrime and computer forensics which relies heavily on research by undergraduates. The goals of this program are to complete projects as defined by clients, but also to allow students to experience the frustrations and enjoyment of solving real-world problems. Furthermore, this experiential approach builds a rich educational environment for students where they must "work for a boss" (faculty member) and with "coworkers" (other students) in a group effort. Overall, students have found the experiences to be beneficial, and we typically have more applicants for the positions than are possible to fill. We describe three of the actual projects used and illustrate our lessons learned.
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Index Terms
- Undergraduate research in computer forensics
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Xiaohong Yuan
Providing research experiences to undergraduate students is important for improving student interest and retention. It allows students to develop the ability to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations and to develop problem-solving abilities. The authors of this paper describe their experiences of involving undergraduate students in three projects related to computer forensics. These projects represent a client-driven project, a research-based project, and something in between. Based on the lessons learned from their experiences, the authors provide valuable suggestions on how to successfully provide research experiences to undergraduate students, which is beneficial to other instructors interested in involving undergraduate students in research. However, how to assess the undergraduate research program is not described clearly in the paper. Online Computing Reviews Service
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