Students will be conversant on password protection, social engineering and network security
Students will be able to describe encryption, and how companies protect against security breaches
Students will be able to explain a variety of types of hacker and their roles
This section leverages the NOVA Cybersecurity Lab resource, provided by NOVA and PBS. Please read the educator's guide to the lab prior to beginning this section, and ensure that the Cybersecurity Lab videos and game work on the computers in your classroom. This section will consist of several short videos (about 4 minutes each), followed by teacher-led discussions, and a session of game playing that will teach students about several methods of hacking and how to prevent them. For the game activity, students Google accounts can be used to save progress if the game lasts over multiple class sessions.
This section should provide a nice break for students from the more technical activities, while slipping in some blocks coding activity as part of a game to prepare them for the next two units.
Activity 1 (Budget 10 minutes)
Students watch a short video and discuss their knowledge of cybersecurity.
1. Students watch Cybersecurity 101 and discuss what they know about cybersecurity and what safety measures they currently take with their online information.
Activity 2 (Budget 25 minutes)
Students identify tips for avoiding online scams, and play level 1 of cybersecurity game.
1. Challenge students with the question, “How aware are you of the best practices for staying safe online?” Explain to students that in the game, they will explore ways that they can stay safe online and avoid security breaches.
2. Ask students in pairs to create a list of tips that they would follow to avoid online scams and to create reliable passwords.
3. Instruct student pairs to complete all the Level 1 challenges in the game.
Activity 3 (Budget 15 minutes)
Students reflect on cybersecurity game experience.
1. Discuss the best practices students learned, and whether this supported the list of tips they created the previous activity. Emphasize (or present) key best practices to students.
Activity 4 (Optional: Budget 45 minutes)
Student pairs complete game experience, and review other videos.
1. The teacher may allow the students to complete the game experience in class, or on their own.
2. The following additional 4 minute videos may be shown and discussed: Cyber Codes, The Secret Life of Hackers, and A Cyber Piracy Parable.