Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Virginia Tech researchers created “Cyber Snackz Adventures in Cybersecurity” to teach elementary school students about online safety.
- The activity book includes engaging activities, coloring pages, and an internet safety pledge for kids.
Faculty from the Virginia Tech National Security Institute developed “Cyber Snackz Adventures in Cybersecurity” to educate elementary school students about internet safety in a fun and age-appropriate way. The activity book includes colorful characters and engaging activities designed to teach kids about protecting personal information online and avoiding sketchy links. The book also includes an internet safety pledge for children to sign after completing it.
Stephanie Travis, director of the Senior Military College Cyber Institute at Virginia Tech, and Christine Billingsley, COO at the Military Cyber Professionals Association, collaborated with illustrator Chris Flemming to create the activities, character backstories, and educational content. Travis emphasized the importance of preparing children for online dangers at a younger age, as kids are increasingly using the internet from early on.
Recognizing the challenges parents face in discussing internet safety with their kids, the team also developed an introductory video and a parent’s guide with additional resources. The project was funded by a GenCyber grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity and the National Science Foundation, with plans to distribute the activity book to K-12 schools through Virginia Tech’s Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity.
