GenCyber@Pitt (2023-2024)
1. About the Program
The University of Pittsburgh is offering a GenCyber program designed for 30 multidisciplinary high school teachers who are interested in providing their students with exposure to cybersecurity in their classes, and to provide opportunities for deeper exploration for interested students. The GenCyber@Pitt program includes pre-camp activities, interactive camp sessions, lesson planning sessions, introduction to diversification, engaging with teachers who incorporate cybersecurity in their classrooms, and post-camp support and follow-up. This program provides a seed to build and sponsor a regional Cybersecurity Teacher Learning Community and ensure the continuous readiness of high school teachers to incorporate cybersecurity in their schools.
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Pre-Camp Activities Tentative Dates and Times:
- Thursday 2/16/2023 (4:30 pm - 5:30 pm ET)
- Thursday 3/2/2023 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
- Thursday 3/23/2023 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
- Thursday 4/6/2023 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
- Thursday 4/27/2023 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
- Thursday 5/18/2023 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
Note: all pre-camp activities will be delivered synchronously remotely via Zoom and will be recorded.
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Summer Camp Dates:
- Arrival (if out of city/state): Sunday 6/18/23
- Summer Camp Begins: Monday 6/19/2023 (9 am EST)
- Summer Camp Ends: Friday 6/23/2023 (1 pm EST)
Note: Monday-Thursday (9am - 5 pm) Friday (9am - 1 pm).
Note: there will be (online/remote) pre-camp and post-camp activities as well.
Fee: $0. This program is funded and sponsored by the GenCyber program.
2. What are the program objectives?
The GenCyber@Pitt program is designed around the following objectives:
1. Introducing the GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts to participants
2. Providing participants with cybersecurity content they can use in their classrooms
3. Providing participants with various opportunities to engage their students
4. Increasing the participants’ readiness for teaching cybersecurity content
5. Sharing best practices on “HOW” to teach cybersecurity
6. Enabling long-term communication for this cohort of participants
7. Acting as a seed to build a regional Cybersecurity Teacher Learning Community
3. Where is the GenCyber@Pitt program?
Pre-camp activities will be delivered online via a series of synchronous set of activities. The summer camp activities take place in the IS Building (135 N. Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260) at the University of Pittsburgh.
Out-of-city participants: The two closest hotels (to where the summer camp will be held) are: Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center and The Oaklander Hotel. Since the program is not a big conference, we do not have discount rates from hotels around us (unfortunately).
4. 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.
5. 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.
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In addition to having no cost/fee, participants will be provided with the following:
- 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
- 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
- Free lunch, snacks, and swag!​
6. 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.
7. Who can apply?
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 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 [email protected] within two weeks from the date of submitting the application.
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If you have questions, email Ahmed Ibrahim at [email protected] with subject line "GenCyber@Pitt".
8. How can I apply?
Interested teachers can fill out the application form here: https://bit.ly/GenCyberPitt23Application
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 [email protected] within two weeks from the date of submitting the application.
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If you have questions, email Ahmed Ibrahim at [email protected] with subject line "GenCyber@Pitt".
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Also, feel free to join any of the following Information Sessions:
GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 1 (Tue, Nov 8, 2022 7:00 PM)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gencyberpitt-information-session-tickets-461906774597
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GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 2 (Mon, Nov 21, 2022 4:30 PM)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gencyberpitt-information-session-2-tickets-461911298127
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GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 3 (Thu, Dec 15, 2022 4:30 PM)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gencyberpitt-information-session-3-tickets-462305015747
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GenCyber@Pitt Information Session 4 (Thu, Jan 19, 2023 4:30 PM)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gencyberpitt-information-session-4-tickets-495213275237
9. Program Team
The GenCyber@Pitt program is prepared, designed, and delivered by:
- Ibrahim, Ahmed (Program Director)
- Khattab, Sherif (Instructor)
- Krishnamurthy, Prashant (Instructor)
- McPherson, Tamar (K12 Pedagogical Expert)
- Palanisamy, Balaji (Lead Instructor)
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Still have questions?
If you still have questions, feel free to email Ahmed Ibrahim at [email protected] .