Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations
Core Code Alignment
CTE / Information Technology
Systems Integration
35010000038: Cybersecurity Forensics
Systems Integration
35010000038: Cybersecurity Forensics
Recommendation
Recommended Primary
Evaluation
The material is engaging with numerous assessment tools and checks for understanding throughout the text and online resources. Hands-on activities and labs are used to keep students engaged while developing long-term knowledge and experience with the content being covered. The material is modern and relevant. See individual narratives for more information.
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Rubric : Career and Technical Education 2025
Compliance with State Law (Required)
| Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sensitive Materials and Prohibited Submission 53G-10-103, R277-628 | NA | Does Not Violate Law | NA | May Violate Law | ||
| Does Not Violate Law | ||||||
| Prohibited discriminatory practices 53G-2-103-5, 53B-1-118 and 67-27-107 | NA | Does Not Violate Law | NA | May Violate Law | ||
| Does Not Violate Law | ||||||
| Maintaining constitutional freedom in the public schools. 53G-10-202 | NA | Does Not Violate Law | NA | May Violate Law | ||
| Does Not Violate Law | ||||||
Content
| Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Assessment Tools | The material provides numerous, quality assessment tools for students, including reflective questions, activities, and application of skills. | The material provides some assessment tools for students, such as including reflective questions, activities, or application of skills. | The material provides minimal assessment tools for students including very little reflective questions, activities, or application of skills. | The material does not provide assessment tools for students. | ||
| There are numerous review questions, hands-on activities, labs, and self-checks to check student understanding. Following the chapter review, students can check their self-check answers with the "Solutions to Self-Check Questions". This assists with providing immediate feedback to students when they are navigating through the course material. Additionally, students can have access to "MindTap" which will allow them to access live virtual machines labs, computer forensics for life assignments, reflection activities, pre- and post-assessments, and a lab manual. I am not sure how students gain access to MindTap or if it comes with the textbook/course materials. | ||||||
| 2. Teacher Resources & Training | The material provides quality teacher resources, including questioning strategies, activity ideas, evaluation tools, and differentiation strategies. | The material provides some teacher resources, including questioning strategies, activity ideas, evaluation tools, or differentiation strategies. | The material provides minimal teacher resources, including very little questioning strategies, activity ideas, evaluation tools, or differentiation strategies. | The material does not provide teacher resources. | ||
| Excellent material for someone entering digital forensics to learn essential skills for teaching. Introduction states, and I agree, it provides a solid foundation for those that are new to the field but have an existing knowledge of computer and networking basics. The instructor is granted access to an Instructor's Manual, Solutions and Answers Guide, Cengage Testing, and PowerPoint Presentations on top of all of the resources that are also available to the students. This textbook does not appear to be for beginners as a background in networking and a general understanding of command line and common operating systems is indicated as a "necessary" prior to working through the material. Additionally, the provider states that it is "intended for those with A+ and Network+ certifications or equivalent. This would require the teacher to gain additional knowledge prior to working through the material if they don't already have it. Since I have a background in Cybersecurity/IT, this textbook would be understandable to me but may not be understandable to someone with a different background. | ||||||
| 3. Ethnic Studies (Ethnic studies in core standards and curriculum should be a narrowly tailored incorporation of age-appropriate opportunities that naturally arise through education without pretextual effort in courses, programs, or activities where ethnic studies is not a primary focus. The material should incorporate curriculum of people and cultures that reflect the state’s various demographics without commentary that seeks to violate the neutrality standard established in codes: 53B-1-118, 53G-2-103, 53G-2-104, 53G-2-105, 67-27-107, | In addition to the content outlined in “Adequate,” this material offers multiple evidence-based supplemental resources and opportunities for learning about various forms of cultural philosophies and epistemologies from Utah, the United States, and worldwide. The materials provide cultural backgrounds, contemporary real-life experiences, and contexts that are relevant to local students. Some examples may include people with disabilities, various body types, and ages. | This material demonstrates respect for diverse socio-cultural identities. The material provides opportunities to acknowledge and integrate the histories, cultures, contributions, and perspectives of people from the United States and worldwide. The material accurately represents the cultures, languages, traditions, beliefs, values, and customs of people from diverse backgrounds through a variety of texts, examples, scenarios, imagery, and applications. | The material has limited themes of social and cultural histories within the United States and globally. The material provides limited examples of inclusive or cultural real-life experiences and does not include diverse characters. | The material does not meet the requirements within the ethnic studies core standards and curriculum requirements. (53E-4-204.1). | ||
| The material is primarily focused on the technical aspects of Cybersecurity and contains little to no images depicting themes of social and cultural histories within the United States and Globally. The material discusses case law and case studies that reflect real-world incidents that impacted how Cybersecurity forensics have developed throughout the years. This has some theme relating to social and cultural histories but the text is still primarily technical in nature. | ||||||
| 4. Shared Values and Character Traits | The material extends beyond the content outlined in "Adequate", it includes elements that connect Utahns to the world. The material offers multiple evidence-based supplemental resources and opportunities for cultivating character traits in students. The material offers multiple evidence-based supplemental resources and opportunities for cultivating character traits in students. Some examples may include characters with a variety of personalities, education, income, occupation, or behaviors that illustrate character traits. | The material focuses on the shared values of diverse people and communities, the common elements that unite Utahns, and displays some character traits in its imagery and content. It aims to cultivate character traits in students, such as courage, leadership, intelligence, integrity, honesty, respect, morality, civility, duty, honor, and service, along with principles found in the Constitution. | The material lacks a sense of shared values or common elements that unite Utahns. Furthermore, the material has limited resources addressing civic and character education. | The material does not meet the requirements within the ethnic studies core standards and curriculum requirements (53E-4-204.1) and civic and character education. (53G-10-204) | ||
| The material is primarily focused on the technical aspects of Cybersecurity and contains little to no images depicting themes relating to shared values or common elements that unite Utahns. The material discusses case law and case studies that reflect real-world incidents that impacted how Cybersecurity forensics have developed throughout the years. This has some theme relating to civic and character education but the text is still primarily technical in nature. | ||||||
| 5. Utah CTE Course Standards Alignment | The material provides adequate preparation of skills through quality examples, explanations, and online resources of the content. | The material provides some preparation of skills through some examples, explanations, or online resources of the content. | The material provides minimal preparation of skills through minimal examples, explanations, or online resources of the content. | The material does not provide preparation of skills through examples, explanations, or online resources of the content. | ||
| The material does a great job at providing foundational knowledge that aligns with CTE standards. The correlation documentation provides multiple examples of where standards are being addressed within the material. Only one standard was not covered by the material, but the publisher made sure to indicate this in their correlation documentation. The material provides adequate preparation of skills through additional context in the form of "Notes" and "Tips", self-checks within each section (occasionally more than one), multiple hands-on activities, and thought provoking questions. | ||||||
| 6. Engagement | The material is engaging by appealing to student interest through interactive and performance-based activities and content. | The material provides some engagement to student interest through some interactive or performance-based activities and content. | The material provides minimal engagement to student interest and includes minimal interactive or performance-based activities. | The material does not provide engagement to student interest through use of interactive or performance-based activities. | ||
| The materials provide additional context in the form of "Notes" and "Tips", self-checks within each section (occasionally more than one), multiple hands-on activities, and thought provoking questions. There are several labs and a chapter review at the end of each chapter. Following the chapter review, students can check their self-check answers with the "Solutions to Self-Check Questions". This assists with providing immediate feedback to students when they are navigating through the course material. Additionally, students can have access to "MindTap" which will allow them to access live virtual machines labs, computer forensics for life assignments, reflection activities, pre- and post-assessments, and a lab manual. | ||||||
| 7. Non-Text Content | The material contains authentic, relevant, applicable, and well-integrated non-text content (images, graphs, visual aids, etc.). | The material contains some authentic, relevant, applicable, integrated non-text content (images, graphs, visual aids, etc.) | The material contains minimal authentic, relevant, applicable, or integrated non-text content (images, graphs, visual aids, etc.) | The material does not contain authentic, relevant, applicable, or well-integrated non-text content (images, graphics, visual aids, etc.) | ||
| Images and other non-text content are very beneficial to increasing understanding and being presented in a clear and helpful manner. | ||||||
Work-Based Learning
| Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Industry Alignment | The material is aligned to industry standards through the use of research-based and real-world application of relevant, current terminology and content. | The material provides some alignment to industry standards through some use of research-based and real-world application of relevant or current terminology and content. | The material provides minimal alignment to industry standards through minimal use of research-based and real-world application of relevant or current terminology and content. | The material does not provide alignment to industry standards through the use of research-based and real-world application of relevant, current terminology and content. | ||
| The material is aligned to industry standards through the use of research-based and real-world application of relevant, current terminology and content. | ||||||
| 2. 21st Century & Workplace Skills | The material engages readers in the development of 21st-century and workplace skills, providing a greater depth of knowledge of the content. | The material provides some development of 21st century and workplace skills, providing some deepening of knowledge of the content. | The material provides minimal development of 21st century or workplace skills, providing minimal deepening of knowledge of the content. | The material does not provide development of 21st century or workplace skills, resulting in no deepening of knowledge of the content. | ||
| Skills are modern and industry standard tools are taught to ensure effective and relevant things are being taught. The material contains, authentic, relevant, applicable, and well-integrated non-text content (images, graphs, visual aids, etc.) | ||||||
Safety
| Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lab Spaces | The material provides adequate preparation for hands-on learning experiences through the inclusion of content-related lab spaces and associated safety practices. | The material provides some preparation for hands-on learning experiences through some inclusion of content-related lab spaces or associated safety practices. | The material provides minimal preparation for hands-on learning experiences through minimal inclusion of content-related lab spaces or associated safety practices. | The material does not provide preparation for hands-on learning experiences through the inclusion of content-related lab spaces or associated safety practices. | ||
| The material provides adequate preparation for hands-on learning experiences through the inclusion of content-related lab spaces and associated safety practices. | ||||||
| 2. Lab Equipment | The material provides adequate preparation for hands-on learning experiences through the inclusion of a wide range of current and content-relevant lab equipment with associated safety practices. | The material provides some preparation for hands-on learning experiences through some inclusion of current and content-relevant lab equipment or associated safety practices. | The material provides minimal preparation for hands-on learning experiences through minimal inclusion of current and content-relevant lab equipment or associated safety practices. | The material does not provide preparation for hands-on learning experiences through the inclusion of current and content-relevant lab equipment or associated safety practices. | ||
| The material provides adequate preparation for hands-on learning experiences through the inclusion of a wide range of current and content-relevant lab equipment with associated safety practices. The text provides clear lists of any materials needed and clear instructions on how to use them correctly to complete projects. | ||||||
Material Characteristics (Total Points:9)
| Item | 3 - Extensive | 2 - Adequate | 1 - Inadequate | 0 - None | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Physical Characteristics | The material goes beyond the content outlined in "Adequate" by incorporating modern, up-to-date, and relatable visuals. | In physical terms, the material is interactive and provides high-quality audio-visual and tactile experiences for all users. | The material offers limited or low-quality audio-visual and tactile experiences for students, but it is reusable. | The content either has low audio-visual quality or is not intended for reuse. | ||
| The format of the material is modern and easy to navigate. Each module is separated into three sections: Learn It, Study It, and Apply It. These activities assist students in developing lasting knowledge of the topics being covered through the use of high-quality audio-visual resources that extend beyond the text. The material is relatable and up-to-date with industry standards. | ||||||
| 2. Technical Standards | The material surpasses the content outlined in "Adequate" by ensuring the safeguarding of student data privacy and easy installation or access without technical assistance. Furthermore, any licensing information is clearly stated in the description. | The materials meet all the requirements of federal and state laws, as well as accepted technical standards such as ISTE Standards and VPAT Compliance. Additional technical specifications and limitations, including hardware requirements, bandwidth demands, and software/web access restrictions, are clearly outlined in the description. The design of the materials allows for error-free installation or access without the need to purchase additional components. | The material is constrained by specifications that require additional materials, technical assistance, hardware, software, or infrastructure. Access to resources within the material expires after a trial period. | Student data privacy is at risk. | ||
| The hardware and software requirements are clearly listed in the Introduction of the textbook (pgs. XV-XVII) and each lab discusses what software/files will be required for each lab. The online portal provides immediate access to these files and guidance on how to complete the work that is required. The privacy policy is available through the online portal and the publisher's website, and they are compliant with state and federal laws regarding data privacy and protection. The material surpasses the content outlined under "adequate". | ||||||
| 3. Adaptability | The material is currently relevant and adaptable for educators and students. The material can be customized for the needs of diverse learners. | Educators or students can utilize the material, but it may not be customizable for the needs of diverse learners. | The material has limited options to address adaptability for the needs of diverse learners. | The material is not suitable for different educational settings with diverse learners. | ||
| The material is very comprehensive with a wide variety of practices and assessments that are available to the students both in their online portal and directly through the textbook. There are assistive tools within the online portal, such as ReadSpeaker, Flashcards, and a Glossary to assist students with learning and understanding the material. The amount of activities enable teachers to adapt the material to diverse learners even if they are lacking some of the knowledge that was identified as "necessary" in the textbooks introduction. | ||||||
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