Security Education in Higher Education through AI-Powered Gamification

Synthesis: Cybersecurity education faces increasing challenges as AI-driven attacks become more realistic and harder to detect, while traditional video-based training in higher education suffers from low engagement and limited effectiveness. Li and colleagues explore AI-powered gamification in cybersecurity education through several short, mobile-friendly games covering topics from password security to text and phone scam recognition, incorporating quiz-based, narrative-based, and Simulation-based designs as well as interactive formats such as TikTok Mini-Games. A two-tiered evaluation with 59 college students (9 technical experts and 50 general users) indicates the potential of AI-powered gamification to improve engagement and increase attention to cybersecurity topics in higher education.

Key Findings

1. Traditional video-based cybersecurity training in higher education often suffers from both low engagement and limited effectiveness.
2. AI-powered gamification can deliver engaging, meaningful, and personalized learning experiences.
3. Several short, mobile-friendly games cover topics from password security to text and phone scam recognition.
4. Designs incorporate quiz-based, narrative-based, and simulation-based gamification strategies as well as interactive formats such as TikTok Mini-Games.
5. A two-tiered evaluation with 59 college students indicates potential to improve engagement and attention to cybersecurity topics.

Connected Concepts

• Game-Based Learning
• Higher Education
• Student Engagement
• Motivation
• Generative AI

Connected Articles

• CyberAGENTS: Structured Autonomy for Agentic Gamified Learning in Cybersecurity — CyberAGENTS: Structured Autonomy for Agentic Gamified Learning in Cybersecurity
• Game-Based and Gamified Robotics Education: A Comparative Systematic Review and Design Guidelines — Game-Based and Gamified Robotics Education
• AI-Enabled Serious Games: Integrating Intelligence and Adaptivity in Training Systems — AI-Enabled Serious Games
• MedGame: Storytelling Gamification Empowered by Large Language Models for Medical Education — MedGame: Storytelling Gamification Empowered by LLMs
• Perceived Workload Across Traditional, Gamified and Artificial Intelligence-Supported Learning Conditions: A NASA-TLX Study in Higher Education — Perceived Workload Across Gamified and AI-Supported Learning

Citation

Li, Buzaid, & Qu (2026). Security Education in Higher Education through AI-Powered Gamification.