"GenCyber Camp Will Help Local Teachers Integrate Cybersecurity Into Lesson Plans"
A new Binghamton University-led initiative aims to provide teachers with the resources they need to help their students navigate today's cybersecurity threats. In summer 2023, the GenCyber program will provide a free eight-day cybersecurity camp for 25 middle and high school teachers, as well as pre- and post-camp outreach activities in K-12 schools. A $136,000 National Security Agency (NSF) grant to faculty members at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science's Department of Computer Science and the College of Community and Public Affairs' (CCPA) Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership is funding the camp. The proposal's goal was to raise cybersecurity awareness in schools and communities, as well as to improve teachers' readiness to develop cybersecurity content. Another objective is to pique students' interest in cybersecurity careers. Computer and network fundamentals, cybersecurity ethics, cyberbullying, email/web/social network security, and cybersecurity careers will all be covered at the camp. Teachers who participate will receive $900, a Chromebook, lesson slides, and a T-shirt. The GenCyber camp is intended to assist teachers in navigating the New York State Board of Regents' new digital fluency learning standards, which must be implemented in schools by the fall of 2024. Part of this project involves helping teachers understand what the new standards mean and how they can be implemented in their specific subject area. The long-term goal is to create a local K-12 cybersecurity ecosystem through collaborations with schools, science centers, high-tech companies, and Binghamton University student organizations. This article continues to discuss the goals and structure of the GenCyber camp.