Kennesaw State professors develop virtual reality games to teach children cybersecurity basics

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Oct 1, 2021) — In buy to educate college-age little ones the basic principles of cybersecurity, two Kennesaw State
University professors are collaborating on a approach to provide classes in which K-12
college students devote most of their time: playing video clip video games.

Launched by Joy Li, assistant professor of pc sport layout and progress, and Yan Huang, assistant professor of program engineering, the task is pegged as an choice to standard studying routines by instructing
students the ideas of cybersecurity in a immersive digital truth (VR) ecosystem.
The system works by introducing students to 360-degree educational films and then
screening their information in a video game placing utilizing a VR headset.

“Our aim is to just take concepts that are in any other case very intricate for college students and put
them in a format that is considerably less difficult for them to comprehend,” explained Huang, who teaches
in Kennesaw State’s College of Computing and Software program Engineering. “This supply process also permits us to continue on refining our lesson options to be certain
they are available to pupils no matter of background and are productive in instructing
them about cybersecurity.”

Inside of the VR headset users are transported to “Cybersecurity Park,” where they will
have entry to 6 instruction modules covering subjects that range from ransomware to
hacking ethics to phishing attempts. Each module has a exclusive theme and game connected
with its lesson. In the phishing module, which mimics the leisure act of fishing
with a rod and reel, pupils are scored on their potential to acknowledge phishing messages,
these kinds of as people inquiring them to disclose particular information and facts. In the ransomware module,
students must defend a medieval castle from threats that are disguised as armored
knights.

“Cybersecurity is not nevertheless an official element of university curriculums, yet we are residing
in an progressively digital globe,” Li stated. “This presented us a wonderful chance
to make an affect on instruction by utilizing online games, which has turn out to be one of the most successful
techniques to get their interest. On a secondary degree, we hope that this sort of publicity
will motivate youngsters to pursue professions in cybersecurity.”

Beyond the instructional objectives, Li said the undertaking offered a special opportunity
for two professors to lend their skills on an interdisciplinary energy. When she
has in depth expertise in acquiring educational video games getting earlier collaborated
on an academic task with a Georgia-centered professional medical faculty, Huang’s investigation interests lie typically in cybersecurity innovations.

Now, four of the six modules are completely ready to perform even though KSU undergraduate and graduate
students completing the remaining modules. The moment complete, the undertaking will be released
on the net cost-free of charge, letting K-12 teachers and learners to obtain the training
modules throughout the world.

– Travis Highfield

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A leader in revolutionary educating and understanding, Kennesaw Point out University features undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its far more than 41,000 learners. With 11 schools on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University Program of Georgia and the 2nd-major college in the condition. The university’s vibrant campus tradition, assorted population, potent world-wide ties and entrepreneurial spirit attract college students from during the region and from 126 nations throughout the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-specified doctoral exploration institution (R2), putting it amongst an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. faculties and universities with an R1 or R2 position. For extra information, stop by kennesaw.edu.