The University of Pittsburgh is pleased to offer a "fully funded with stipend provided" GenCyber program, for 30 multidisciplinary high school teachers, focusing on teachers’ preparedness for teaching cybersecurity by helping them build a foundation in what cybersecurity means and how to support students in exploring different cybersecurity areas. The GenCyber@Pitt program includes pre-camp activities, interactive hands-on camp sessions, lesson planning sessions, engagement with teachers who incorporate cybersecurity in their classrooms, and post-camp support. The program will be delivered virtually (i.e., remotely over Zoom) and participants’ synchronous remote attendance is required.
Pre-camp activities will focus on the GenCyber Cybersecurity concepts and increasing awareness of cybersecurity risks and threats. The summer camp will engage teachers in many hands-on activities designed to help them grow professionally and prepare them to engage with their students in cybersecurity topics. Teachers will leave ready to engage their students in cybersecurity topics like password security, social engineering, network mapping, penetration testing and much more. Post-camp activities will provide support to develop lessons/events for delivery during the 2024-2025 school year. Program participants will join our regional Cybersecurity Teacher Learning Community and connect/network with existing members to ensure the continuous readiness of high school teachers to incorporate cybersecurity in their schools.
We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Cyber.ORG to provide many of their content to you during the pre-camp activities. Most of the pre-camp activities will be delivered by Cyber.ORG to get you introduced to their curriculum and cyber range (free to use by all U.S. high schools).
Pre-Camp Activities Tentative Dates, Times, and Topics:
- Thursday 4/4/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Welcome Meeting + GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts - Thursday 4/18/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Cyber Attack Types and Phases - Thursday 4/25/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Introduction to Linux (by Cyber.org) - Thursday 5/2/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Passwords and Cracking Passwords (by Cyber.org) - Thursday 5/9/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Malicious Links and Untrusted Sources (by Cyber.org) - Thursday 5/16/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Web Application Attacks (by Cyber.org) - Thursday 5/23/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Risk/Threats/Vulnerabilities + recent cybersecurity threats - Thursday 6/6/2024 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Job Opportunities + Importance of Creating a Diverse Workforce
Note: all pre-camp activities will be delivered synchronously remotely via Zoom. Attendance is required. Sessions will be recorded to accommodate emergencies and unexpected situations.
Summer Camp Dates:
- Camp begins: Monday 6/24/2024 (9 am EST)
- Camp ends: Friday 6/28/2024 (1 pm EST)
Note: Monday-Thursday (9am - 5 pm) Friday (9am - 1 pm). Remember, there will be (online/remote) pre-camp and post-camp activities as well.
Stipend will be provided to participants who complete the GenCyber@Pitt program requirements.
Fee: $0. This program is funded and sponsored by the GenCyber program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the program objectives?
This GenCyber@Pitt program is designed around the following objectives:
- Introducing the GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts to participants
- Providing participants with cybersecurity content they can use in their classrooms
- Engaging participants in many hands-on exercises to raise their confidence in such topics
- Increasing the participants’ readiness for teaching cybersecurity content
- Sharing best practices on “HOW” to teach cybersecurity
- Enabling long-term communication for this cohort of participants
- Enrolling new members to our Cybersecurity Teacher Learning Community
Where is the GenCyber@Pitt program?
The program will be delivered virtually (i.e., remotely over Zoom) and participants’ synchronous remote attendance is required. To ensure that all participants are able to accomplish the program’s objectives while being delivered remotely, it is required that every participant have their camera turned on during all Zoom meetings.
Each Zoom session will include checkpoints as well as an assignment (required) for participants to show that they completed all the activities of the session or understood the session’s material. Throughout the program, assignments will be used to assess participants' understanding and ensure their engagement. Assignments will be given in different forms like submitting screenshots showing the participant was able to complete a specific activity, answering questions about the topic, or solving CTF challenges. Participants will be required to attempt each session’s assignment but do not have to get the full grade for all assignments.
Why should I participate in the GenCyber@Pitt program?
The program provides you an opportunity to learn different aspects of cybersecurity, have fun learning by using CTFs, be ready to take what you learned to your classroom, and join a community of teachers with similar passion. You will learn cybersecurity principles, core security concepts, and security challenges in emerging technologies with many hands-on activities (e.g., password cracking and network scanning). The summer camp will include dedicated time for lesson planning and you will work with a team to develop an implementation and adoption plan according to what is applicable in your school. You will compete in a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition during the program and learn how to develop and host a CTF for your students. We hope that you will join us for this amazing experience.
Click here to view photos from our previous cohort.
What topics will be discussed during the summer camp?
The summer camp sessions will cover (but are not limited to):
- Developing a Security Mindset + Threat Modeling
- Social Engineering Hands-on
- How the Internet works (Introduction to Networking)
- Network Traffic Analysis using Wireshark (Hands-on)
- Reconnaissance and Enumeration using nmap (Hands-on)
- Post-secondary and Career Awareness
- How to teach cybersecurity and where to find resources
- Inclusion and Diversity (Ways to diversify the workforce)
- LESSON PLANNING + REFLECTIONS (daily starting the second day)
What is the program capacity?
The program has a cap of ~30 high school teachers in order to allow for effective discussions and hands-on experiences. Once the program capacity is reached, all other accepted applicants will be on a waitlist in case someone drops. NOTE: The program is now FULL (as of January 31, 2024) and new applications will be placed on a waitlist.
How much does it cost to participate in the program?
This program is sponsored by the GenCyber program and there is NO COST OR FEE to participate in the GenCyber@Pitt program.
What stipend is provided through this program?
In addition to having no cost/fee, all participants will be provided with the following:
- A $500 stipend upon the completion of the the pre-camp activities, summer camp, and necessary surveys
- A $500 stipend upon the completion of the the post-camp activities
- A certificate of participation upon the completion of the pre-camp activities
- A certificate of participation upon the completion of the summer camp
- A certificate of participation upon the completion of the post-camp activities
- And, swag for you shipped to your location!
Who can apply?
NOTE: The program is now FULL (as of January 31, 2024) and new applications will be placed on a waitlist.
All teacher applicants must reside in the United States and be a teacher (or plan to become a teacher) for any subject at a school in the United States. Applicants are required to submit a letter of support (signed on an official letterhead) from their school administrator (an example letter can be found here).
You can upload the letter as part of the application or email the letter to aibrahim@pitt.edu within two weeks from the date of submitting the application. Applications will be reviewed once they are complete (i.e., after receiving the school administrator letter).
How can I apply?
NOTE: The program is now FULL (as of January 31, 2024) and new applications will be placed on a waitlist.
Interested teachers can fill out the application form here: https://bit.ly/GenCyber24Application .
Note: The funding agency requires applicants to include a "Letter of Support" from their school administrator. You can upload the letter as part of the application or email the letter to aibrahim@pitt.edu within two weeks from the date of submitting the application.
We will be reviewing applications on rolling basis. Application closes on January 30 or when seats are filled.
If you have questions, email Ahmed Ibrahim at aibrahim@pitt.edu with subject line "GenCyber@Pitt".
How can I learn more about the GenCyber@Pitt program?
Feel free to email Ahmed Ibrahim (aibrahim@pitt.edu) to schedule a Zoom meeting or join any of the following Information Sessions:
GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 1 (Thu, Dec 7, 2023 4:30 PM)
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GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 2 (Thu, Dec 21, 2023 4:30 PM)
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GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 3 (Thu, Jan 11, 2024 4:30 PM)
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GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 4 (Thu, Jan 25, 2024 4:30 PM)
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