A Survey of Learning Technology Integration in Information Warfare Education

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are enduringly important in today’s world. From paying for morning coffee at the local cafe to receiving a text message from a loved one, ICTs are a part of everyday life. On a larger scale, entire nations are dependent on ICTs. From power grids to the storage of classified documents, nations have come to rely on ICTs. This dependence on ICTs has increased information warfare’s importance as a warfighting domain. In order to effectively conduct information warfare operations, operators must first be properly trained on how to be successful in this domain. The use of learning technologies could be useful to train information warfare forces. This paper surveys the current state of learning technology integration into information warfare education. Learning technologies have become commonplace in today’s professional world. Many topics in organizations are taught through learning technologies such as interactive computer-based trainings, educational videos, and more complex serious games. This is no different for information warfare professionals. Learning technologies can provide alternative ways to teach important information warfare concepts such as the roles, assets, and capabilities that are necessary to succeed in this domain. The use of artificial intelligence, game-based learning, gamification, and simulation-based learning to enhance the training of information warfare forces is discussed in this survey. Additionally, the effect of adding learning technology into information warfare education curriculum as well as the key elements for each type of learning technology integrated are analysed. This paper also identifies areas of future research to further develop this topic. These findings are useful to information warfare educators who are developing curriculum or looking for ways to introduce new technologies into existing curriculum. Artificial intelligence, game-based learning, gamification, and simulation-based learning are all great options to support information warfare education, and there are even more options that have yet to be researched that present further opportunities to study in this area.