SecureXP solves the problem of inadequate cybersecurity education by providing students with engaging, hands-on experiences that teach safe and responsible internet use.
This semester, we explored the growing issue of inadequate cybersecurity education among intermediate school students, a demographic increasingly exposed to online risks but rarely equipped with the tools to navigate them safely. As digital technology becomes more embedded in education and social life, students are engaging with the internet at younger ages, often without fully understanding the consequences of their online actions. This lack of awareness can lead to risky behavior such as weak password use, falling for phishing scams, or oversharing personal information—all of which can have real consequences like identity theft, cyberbullying, or academic misconduct. The pain this causes is both personal and widespread: students may feel embarrassed, unsafe, or anxious, while parents and educators are left scrambling to teach cybersecurity skills without proper resources. SecureXP addresses this human problem by creating a learning experience that resonates with students, making cybersecurity education accessible, interactive, and relevant. Given that there are over 22 million students in the U.S. between the ages of 10 and 14, the need for a scalable, engaging solution is significant. Our initial testing with educators and parents has shown a willingness to pay for a product that fills this educational gap, especially when it aligns with school technology curricula and promotes safer online behavior in an increasingly digital world.
Our design thinking process centered on empathy by putting ourselves in the shoes of students, teachers, and parents to better understand the challenges they face with online safety. We took a human-centered approach by designing interactive challenges that reflect real-world scenarios students might face online. After thorough research and analysis, we arrived at our product today!
To build empathy for our users, we started by researching the online habits and challenges faced by intermediate school students. We studied common issues reported by educators, parents, and cybersecurity organizations, such as students falling for phishing attempts, using weak passwords, and lacking awareness of online privacy. Putting ourselves in the shoes of these young users helped us realize that traditional cybersecurity lessons often feel disconnected or unengaging. This shifted our perspective and we saw the need for something interactive and relatable. By focusing on what would genuinely interest and benefit students, we were able to design challenges that mimic real scenarios in a safe, guided environment. Our "clients" are students aged 10–14, and through this empathy-building process, we learned that even a small misunderstanding of internet safety can have a big impact on their confidence and well-being online.