Design and Development of a Modular K-12 Cybersecurity Curriculum
Giti Javidi, Ehsan Sheybani · 2020
Abstract The huge shortage of personnel with sufficient knowledge, skills and abilities in cybersecurity field is already taking a toll locally and globally. Part of this deficiency is due to absence of minorities and women in technical fields (population issue). The other contributor to this problem is the lack of encouragement, interest, and engagement at the K12 for students to find careers in challenging fields such as cybersecurity (pipeline issue). To remedy this, the authors have taken an innovative approach to design and develop a modular K12 cybersecurity curriculum. The innovative techniques used in the proposed curriculum to incorporate cybersecurity concepts include, but are not limited: 1. Taking a holistic approach to make cybersecurity awareness the minimum requirement for K12 college-bound students, 2. Using a train-the-trainer model to train high school teachers to teach cybersecurity, integrate cybersecurity concepts in their classrooms, and promote cybersecurity as an attractive career path, 3. Introducing creative, modular, and hands-on activities to teach programming, networking, and other cybersecurity-related topics in a fun and attractive manner, 4. Developing case studies, real-world examples, and projects that connect cybersecurity concepts to terrorism and radicalization, social, political, and financial hacking, military strategic missions, recruitment of extremist and religious groups, etc., 5. Adding leadership and entrepreneurship skills to the mix to prepare students for real-world problems. 6. Assessing the delivery methods, timing, format, pacing and outcomes alignment to provide a baseline for future research. Design and development of a modular, scalable, and novel cybersecurity curriculum will help train the future workforce. This will be done in coordination, integration, and collaboration with other/existing programs to leverage and/or expand STEM educational research.