Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
High school teachers attended a GenCyber camp at ECU to learn about cybersecurity threats and attacks. The camp, funded by the NSA, provided resources and hands-on activities to help teachers design cybersecurity curricula for their classrooms. Teachers learned about ransomware attacks, artificial intelligence, and online protection. The camp instructors included experts in cybersecurity from ECU’s departments. The teachers left the camp feeling knowledgeable and prepared to educate their students about the importance of cybersecurity.
Full Article:
High school teachers participated in a GenCyber camp at East Carolina University to expand their knowledge about cybersecurity threats and attacks. The camp, which was funded by the National Security Agency, aimed to provide resources and hands-on activities to help teachers design effective cybersecurity curricula for their classrooms.
The instructors at the camp, including experts in cybersecurity such as Dr. Te-Shun Chou, Dr. Biwu Yang, and Dr. Xi Lin, guided the teachers through theoretical discussions and practical exercises to explore various aspects of cybersecurity. They also created lesson plans to incorporate into their teaching.
Participants at the camp learned about the increasing threat of ransomware attacks, with Mark Webster, ECU’s chief information security officer, highlighting that ransomware attacks had increased by 50% from 2023 to 2024. The teachers also gained insights into using artificial intelligence to enhance their lesson plans and tools such as Quad9 to protect their networks.
One of the key takeaways for the teachers was the importance of raising awareness among students about cybersecurity risks. Sabrina Lynn King-Bowen, a math teacher at Ocracoke School, emphasized the need for students to be cautious when browsing online and clicking on ads to prevent cyberattacks.
The camp took place in ECU’s Cybersecurity Analysis and Action Center, providing a practical learning environment for the teachers. ECU’s cybersecurity program has been recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA since 2005.
Overall, the high school teachers left the GenCyber camp feeling empowered and ready to educate their students about the significance of cybersecurity. They expressed gratitude for the valuable insights and experiences gained during the camp.
