In March, the chapter participated in Old Mill Middle School South's eighth annual Cyber Defender Day. Students in grades 5-8 visited a variety of stations where they learned about cybersecurity, including cyber defense and ethical hacking and raised awareness for future careers in the cyber defense industry from industry and government leader volunteers through hands-on learning. This learning included:
• 3D-printing displays (see printers in action)
• Capture the Flag (use logic and strategies to beat your opponent in an electronic game)
• Computer Graveyard (take apart and reassemble old computers and electronics)
• CrowPi devices (learn about Raspberry Pi)
• Cyphering Wheel (decode and build simple messages using a variety of cyphers)
• Electronic breadboard build for a small electronic badge (learn circuitry of a breadboard by building an electronic badge)
• Electronics: snap circuits and "Little Bitz" (explore circuits and build electronic gadgets)
• OMMS First Lego League (robot mission demonstrations)
• Ozobot activity (coding and sensing using Ozobots)
• Robotics (play with battle bots)
• Wi-Fi demonstrations (security demonstrations; see how Wi-Fi works)
The chapter distributed information to parents and teachers about education initiatives, primarily STEM scholarships for high school seniors pursuing a college education and career in STEM, and Kickstarter Grants for K-12 teachers to bring STEM education into the classroom. The chapter has worked with the Old Mill Middle school STEM coordinator since this event started eight years ago, when it funded this event with computers for the Capture the Flag station.
Cyber Defender Day attracted over 350 participants. A big thanks to chapter members, especially Jacquetta Jacobs, Jessica Morgenstern, Chad Michael and Tracey Michael, who all attended the event. |
