CSA collaborated with the Ascend Learning brand, Jones & Bartlett Learning, to work on their Cyber Product Portfolio. Ascend Learning provides software-based, data-driven educational support to accelerate learning, advance job readiness, and enable employment success. They are committed to accelerating the learning pathways that can move people into careers across healthcare, education, wellness, and safety—where they have the knowledge and skills to help change lives in the communities they serve. The Jones & Bartlett Learning brand is a leading provider of instructional, assessment, and learning-performance management solutions for secondary, post-secondary, and professional markets.
Scope
For the Cybersecurity textbook projects, CSA Education provided author management services, developmental editing, content review of the main texts, element log creation, and review of instructor resources for clarity and accuracy against the main text. CSA also facilitated meetings and documentation for the Ascend Learning Content Strategist.
For the virtual lab project, CSA provided expertise to help refine their sandbox environment and ensure adaptability to meet diverse instructional needs. This collaboration resulted in enhanced lab exercises that can function either as a standalone lab resource or as an integrated component of the updated textbooks, empowering students with practical, hands-on experience critical for mastering IT and security-related subjects.
Titles included in the project and portfolio include: The Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture, 6e (Linda Null); Computer Science Illuminated, 8e (Nell Dale, John Lewis); Fundamentals of Server Administration, 1e (Chris Kinnaird); Elementary Information Security, 4e (Richard E. Smith, Peter Gregory); Security Strategies in Windows Platforms & Applications, 4e (Michael Solomon, Rob Shimonski); and Web Programming with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, 2e (John Dean).
Process
CSA was able to source several cybersecurity experts who were also talented writers up to date on current cybersecurity topics. These experts worked with the textbook authors to ensure that their revised textbooks were as current to the ever-changing technology landscape as possible. They helped the authors revise course content as well as review and revise all assessment and course support materials.
Challenges and Successes
The CSA team worked really well with our client, and they were very happy with the work that was done by our cybersecurity experts. The work remained on schedule and under budget due to the proactive approach to communication taken by CSA’s project manager. The project’s scope ended up being highly fluid, requiring frequent adjustments to pricing, budget, schedule, and workflow. This type of adaptability presents a challenge in ensuring efficient project delivery while maintaining our initial objectives. Another challenge was working within the client’s sandbox environment, but we were able to identify some efficiencies that allowed our SME to work directly with the client instead of passing everything through the content lead and project manager.
Being able to fluidly adapt to the client’s evolving needs underscores the importance of open communication and proactive planning. By maintaining a transparent dialogue with the client and anticipating potential changes, we effectively managed the project’s trajectory to minimize disruptions.
The project team was extremely easy to work with, very communicative, and partnership-oriented.
Summary
Our collaboration with Ascend Learning was successful, as we were able to update and enhance their Cyber Product Portfolio. The project involved providing author management services, developmental editing, content review, and virtual lab expertise.
Key achievements include:
- Expert content: Sourcing and working with cybersecurity experts to ensure up-to-date and accurate content
- Adaptable virtual labs: Revising and refining the labs within their Hatbox sandbox environment to meet their unique instructional needs
- Effective project management: Overcoming challenges posed by the fluid scope through open communication and proactive planning
The collaboration resulted in a final product that equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the cybersecurity field. We look forward to partnering with Ascend Learning on other similar projects.