At the end of each unit, DB participation is assessed based on level of engagement and the quality of the contribution to the discussion. DBs allow learners to learn through sharing ideas and experiences as they relate to course content. Because it is not possible to engage in two-way dialogue after a conversation has ended, no posts to the DB are accepted after the end of the unit. Learners must demonstrate an appropriate depth of understanding of course content to receive credit for having submitted substantive posts. Typically, this is achieved with 3–4 strong paragraphs for Main Posts and 2–3 strong paragraphs for Response Posts.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) created a procedure to select a symmetric-key encryption algorithm to protect sensitive federal information. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a standard used by the U.S. government. It was announced by NIST after 5 years of a standardization process, in which many designs were evaluated before the solution was selected.

Based on your understanding of how AES was chosen, what is your opinion of the criteria used?
Why do you think these criteria were important?
What do you think about the effectiveness and ease of use of AES?