Where does it fit?
High School CTE Course
Cybersecurity Fundamentals is a high school course in the Digital Technology Pathway that introduce students to cybersecurity.
Middle School
Minecraft Education Courses
High School
Esports Electives
Game Design Pathway
Media Production Pathway
Digital Technology Pathway
Course Outline
Exploring the foundational skills in cybersecurity.
11 Units
58 Lessons
Available in English and Spanish
Unit 1 · 7 Lessons
Protection
Fundamental principles of cybersecurity, especially as they pertain to the esports and gaming industry. Students will learn about the impact of cybersecurity breaches on esports players and explore best practices for online safety, authentication, and the protection of personally identifiable information.
Objectives
Understand essential online safety practices
Learn how to protect personally identifiable information
Explore various authentication methods
Create incident response and business continuity plan
1
2
Unit 2 · 5 Lessons
Cyber Crimes
This unit is aimed at gamers looking to understand and guard against potential online threats. Students learn how to identify the nature of cyber-attacks and the tactics used by cybercriminals, as well as protecting themself against cyberbullying.
Objectives
Identify various forms of cyberattacks
Learn what methods cybercriminals use
Understand cyberbullying and its effects
Perform cybersecurity self-audit
Learn how to prevent costly consequences of cyberattacks
3
Unit 3 · 6 Lessons
Accounts and Identity Theft
Methodologies to guard personal information and have a safe online presence. Students explore key concepts such as creating and managing strong passwords, understanding the risks associated with oversharing on social media, and awareness of identity theft.
Objectives
Identify weak vs strong passwords
Learn how to manage passwords securely
Understand the risks of oversharing information on social media
Explore best practices for access control
Protect against identity theaft
4
Unit 4 · 5 Lessons
Wares, Viruses, and Attacks
Understanding and combating malware. Students learn about what precautions they could take to avoid malware, how to identify types of malware attacks, and how to recover their devices from malware.
Objectives
Identify different types of malware and attacks
Understand how malware can affect systems
Use best practices to prevent breaches
Learn how to recover from malware attacks
5
Unit 5 · 6 Lessons
WiFi and Networks
This unit covers the technical aspects of networks, such as components, addressing methods, and the OSI Model, to build foundational knowledge crucial for gamers and esports professionals. It also covers the importance of secure connections and risks of public WiFi.
Objectives
Understand the benefits of WiFi vs Ethernet
Identify the risks of connecting to public WiFi
Use VPN to protect personal information
Explore the main components in networks
Learn how cloud computing is used in gaming
6
Unit 6 · 6 Lessons
Social Engineering
Understanding and combatting social engineering and false information in the digital world. Students learn about the tactics used by cyber villains, including AI, deepfakes, and different types of scams. Students review strategies to protect themselves and understand how false information spreads online.
Objectives
Explore common social engineering techniques
Learn how to defend agains social engineering attacks
Identify signs of a video being deepfake
Understand the difference between misinformation and disinformation
Practice techniques to detect false information
7
Unit 7 · 4 Lessons
Mobile Security
The unit is aimed at equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to secure their mobile devices effectively. It covers issues like SIM hijacking, app safety, data backup techniques, and mobile device authentication and encryption strategies.
Objectives
Understand vulnerabilities of mobile devices
Use best practices to secure smartphone
Set up data backup on important devices
Explore various aspects of app safety
8
Unit 8 · 5 Lessons
Safe Browsing
Internet Safety and Cybersecurity. Students learn to browse the internet safely, identify secure and dangerous websites, and understand the implications of internet cookies on privacy. With practical exercises like evaluating website security and navigating terms and conditions, they learn how to protect their online presence.
Objectives
Understand the importance of HTTPS, digital certificates, and encryption
Identify dangerous websites
Learn what cookies are used for and their implications on privacy
Explore different types of cryptography
9
Unit 9 · 4 Lessons
Hardware Exploits
Protecting physical infrastructure in a gaming environment. Students learn about how common devices using USB can be used for attacks and how the Internet of Things impacts the security of networks and systems.
Objectives
Identify the risks associated with USB devices
Learn how to protect physical infrastructure
Explore vulnerabilities of IoT systems
10
Unit 10 · 5 Lessons
Privacy Essentials
Digital privacy, security, and information management. Students learn to navigate the complexities of digital data privacy, its ethical considerations, and the implications of digital footprints and tracking on personal and organizational levels.
Objectives
Explore the ethical dilemma of anonymity vs accountability
Understand the benefits and risks associated with metadata related to digital files
Learn about digital footprints and tracking
Protect sensitive data and explore destruction methods
11
Capstone Project · 3 Lessons
Capstone and Assessment
A capstone project where students apply their accumulated skills and knowledge in a comprehensive presentation, demonstrating their proficiency in cybersecurity principles. The course rounds off with a practice exam for the ISC2 CC certificate and a reflective session where students assess their growth, identify areas for improvement, and plan for their future in the cybersecurity field.
Objectives
Review major topics covered in the course
Work on capstone project to apply skills
Prepare for ISC2 CC certification
Reflect on course outcomes and career goals
Professional Development
Integrate esports into the classroom
District wide course launch
Full lesson plans and teacher instructions
Set up IT infrastructure
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