Critical Infrastructure
Protection with a twist

- A multi-prong attack is poised to occur in San Luis Rey. Can your prevention strategies stop it before it's too late?

CLIENT: Center for Homeland Defense and Security
PROJECT: San Luis Rey Scenario for Critical Infrastructure Protection

Teleologic developed a set of scenario-based problems for the fictional jurisdiction of San Luis Rey. In this case, learners applied their learning of homeland security and critical infrastructure protection to try to prevent a multi-prong terrorist attack involving various vulnerabilities of the transportation and power sectors.

The client's market included medium to high level homeland security professionals seeking a master's degree in Homeland Security through the Naval Postgraduate School and sponsored by the Office for Domestic Preparedness. Content provided by subject-matter experts was supported by on-line activities, discussions, and application in scenario- based challenges set in San Luis Rey.

Business Challenges

A need for the development of a cadre of strategic thinkers and homeland security leadership experts emerged after 9/11. The Center for Homeland Defense and Security wanted to distinguish itself from others seeking to provide master's level education in this emerging field.

How could Teleologic use its network-based learning expertise to help the client differentiate its program from others in a meaningful way?

The CHDS learners were already highly educated and successful in their homeland security related fields. The challenge was in having them apply policy and leadership skills in a meaningful and effective learning context.

How could Teleologic build in realistic opportunities for these highly educated homeland security professionals to apply leadership skills and strategic thinking — in this case, specifically about critical infrastructure protection?

Teleologic Solutions

The Teleologic team worked closely with the client to create a strategic approach to their part in-residence and part online curriculum. Working in this emerging and often political discipline required a thorough understanding of the client's context and the needs of the client, the client's learners, and the client's funders.

Purposeful: What is the client trying to achieve?

• Create an effective online learning environment component for homeland security leadership development.
• Distinguish itself as a provider of graduate homeland security education

Learner-centric: How will the learners' needs be addressed?

• Scenario-based application of learning and policy level thinking.
• Engage learners through the use of multimedia and narrative so that the story is affective and personally compelling.
• Make the problem (terrorist attack on critical infrastructure) relevant and realistic.

Visually Meaningful: How does the graphic identity and supporting visual elements support the purpose?

• The scenario narrative called for three simultaneous story-lines, all of which provided large amounts of crucial on-screen content. A simple but effective layout allowed for a logical, functional separation of the content while establishing an understood chronology for the scenario narrative.
• Electric theme reinforces concepts of Critical Infrastructure Protection.
• Game-like interface to encourage engagement.
• Realistic audio and photographic imagery for enhanced realism.

Technologically Appropriate: How can technology be used appropriately to achieve the client's outcomes?

• A blend of multimedia elements including animation, user interaction, photo and schematic imagery, and audio elements, to create a complete "experience" in a relatively low-bandwidth package.