T3-CIDERS Train-the-Trainers: Strengthening CI Skills for Cybersecurity Research and Education through Iterative Improvements in Second Cohort

Volume 17, Issue 2 (November 2026), pp. 26–33

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@article{jocse-17-2-5,
  author={Wirawan Purwanto and Mohan Yang and Peng Jiang and Dorothy X. Parry and Belle Li and Kristin Herman and Nolan Lovett and Shanan Chappell Moots and Masha Sosonkina and Hongyi Wu},
  title={T3-CIDERS Train-the-Trainers: Strengthening CI Skills for Cybersecurity Research and Education through Iterative Improvements in Second Cohort},
  journal={The Journal of Computational Science Education},
  year=2026,
  month=nov,
  volume=17,
  issue=2,
  pages={26--33},
  doi={https://doi.org/10.22369/issn.2153-4136/17/2/5}
}

T3-CIDERS is a multi-year train-the-trainer program that develops university faculty, researchers, and students as future trainers that are equipped to integrate advanced cyberinfrastructure skills, including high-performance computing, machine learning, big data analytics, and parallel programming, into cyber-security research and education. This paper describes the iterative redesign of T3-CIDERS from its first cohort (2024) to its second cohort (2025–2026), motivated by systematic evidence collected through pre/post surveys, daily reflections, observations, and interviews. Challenges identified in Cohort 1, such as unequal participant preparedness, participant fatigue from a dense schedule, limited interactivity, and insufficient community building drove a set of evidence-based program improvements. For Cohort 2, the pre-training phase was substantially expanded to cover all six technical modules and a foundational pedagogy module. The in-person institute was restructured for more substantial interactivity and engagement, adopting a rhythm of mini-lectures, hands-on CI learning, guided discussions, and studio-based lesson development. Community-building activities were strengthened through social events during the institute, structured mentorship meetings, and a new community webinar series. Early findings from Cohort 2, drawing from reflections and direct feedback from the participants, show increased participation in the program beyond the institute, as well as confidence and eagerness to teach CI to others.