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The 2023–2024 B’More Secure GenCyber Train the Trainer program is a year-long professional learning opportunity for middle and high school educators in Maryland public schools. The B’More Secure GenCyber program builds teacher capacity to integrate cybersecurity concepts into their courses to engage their students in learning about careers and post-secondary opportunities in cybersecurity. We are particularly interested in increasing interest in cybersecurity among students traditionally underrepresented in cyber careers and fields of study (e.g. African America, Hispanic). The program is open to secondary teachers of any subject with little to no cybersecurity content knowledge as well as teachers with existing cybersecurity knowledge and teaching experience who want to continue to build their skills.
Teachers who successfully complete the B’More Secure GenCyber program will receive a $1,200 stipend (must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident), a new Chromebook (which is theirs to keep) and 3 CPD credits.

Daily Schedule

The B’More Secure GenCyber will meet June 26 – 30, 2023 (and May 4, 2024) at the Cyber Center on TU’s main campus.

summer schedule

Slide Decks

Day 1 Slide Decks

Day 2 Slide Decks

Day 3 Slide Decks

Day 4 Slide Decks

Day 5 Slide Decks

Monday Evening Slide Decks and Resources

 

 

 

Kick-Off Meeting and Pre-Work Asynchronous Homework Assignment
  • View the recording of the Kick-Off meeting
  • Click here make a copy of the homework (in Google Slide Deck Format)
  • Save it to your own computer and complete all the assignments
  • Upload here when completed

 

 

Classroom Implementation Project

The goal of the B’More Secure GenCyber professional development program is to prepare educators to effectively teach about cybersecurity and encourage students historically excluded from cybersecurity fields to consider a future career in cybersecurity. The program is intentionally designed as a year-long learning community that begins with an intensive summer ‘camp’ experience. During the summer camp portion, educators will begin to develop their Classroom Implementation Project (CIP), which will consist of two cyber-focused lesson plans that they intend to implement with at least one class of students during the 2023-2024 school year. The program will conclude in May 2024 with the B’More Secure GenCyber Conference in which participants return to Towson University and present the results of their implementation projects. 

Get started on your Classroom Implementation Project!

 

Get the Template

Click here to access the template for developing the lessons that are part of your CIP.

  • You’ll be asked to ‘Make a copy’ and you should save it using ‘Last Name_Lesson 1 (or 2). 
  • You’ll do this twice, since you’ll be submitting two lessons.

CIP Peer Review

Everyone will receive feedback from a colleague on both lessons in their CIP.

  • We will be assigning Peer Review partners during the summer.
  • Feedback will be given directly in the slide deck (via comments and on slides 12-16).
  • You will be expected to use the feedback to revise your lessons prior to submitting.

Submit your CIP

Once you’re done with each lesson, you will submit your final version by uploading both of your lessons to this folder.

  • Program facilitators will review each lesson and provide feedback.
  • You will not need submit revised Lesson Plans based on facilitator feedback (unless specifically noted). However, we expect that you will use the feedback from the facilitators to revise the lesson before you implement it in the classroom and see evidence of these changes in your final reflection.

Due Dates

Click on the due dates tab for info.

More Questions about the CIP?
Review our CIP FAQ or contact program facilitators at gencyber@towson.edu.

We will be hosting four mandatory GenCyber Webinars during the 2023 -2024 school year.  All webinars will be held on Zoom and recorded for those who cannot attend synchronously.

Webinar 1: Monday, October 30

Webinar 2: Monday, November 27

Webinar 3:  TBD 

Webinar 4:  TBD

 

Everyone who will be parking on campus will need to register their vehicle through an online system. Directions for how to register were emailed June 19 and are pasted below. Please read those directions and register your car prior to coming on campus. Here is a screencast recording of the process if you’re having trouble.

All in-person sessions will be held at the Cyber Center on TU’s main campus. Daily commuters will be parking in the Towsontown parking garage (off University Avenue). Click here to access online campus map.

If you’re staying overnight on campus, you will be staying in Barton House. The closest parking to Barton House is in West Village Garage. You are welcome to drive your car each morning to the Towsontown Town garage and park, or you can leave it in West Village Garage and walk to the Cyber Center (~0.75 mile walk).

It is a 5-10 minute walk from the Towsontown garage to the Cyber Center. Follow the red footprints in the image below.  The physical address of the Cyber Center is 10 W. Burke Ave, Towson, MD, 21250.  Note that when looking at campus maps the Cyber Center is referred to as either ‘The Residences at 10 West’ or ‘TW’ as used to be the Towson Marriott and campus maps have not been updated.

Campus Walking Instructions

Below you will find instructions for staying on campus, as well as the date you are assigned to check in.

Click here for Checklist of due dates for all assignments.

What is Cyber Connections?

Cyber Connections is a program that connects TU students with 6th-12th grade students and teachers with the goal of sparking interest in the field of cyber security. Cyber Connections uses a near-peer mentoring model, which gives 6th- 12th grade students an opportunity to connect with someone close in age and experience with the goal of learning more about cyber security. Once a TU student and GenCyber teacher are connected, the TU student will virtually join the teacher’s classroom to give a prepared presentation to 6th-12th grade students. 

What can I expect from a Cyber Connections Presentation? 

Cyber Connections presentations are customizable in content and length. GenCyber teachers can indicate the type of content they’d like in the presentation. Available topics include:

  • Cybersecurity overview
  • Cybersecurity careers
  • Cybersecurity activity
  • Speaker experience (e.g. what sparked speakers interest in cyber, their journey to college, college experience)
  • Q&A session

GenCyber teachers can also choose the length of the session; our speakers can prepare a 15-, 30-, 45-, or 60-minute session. 

Who are the Cyber Connection Fellows?

Click here to get to know more about the TU students who have been selected as Cyber Connection Fellows. TU Center for STEM Excellence staff will match Cyber Connection Fellows with classroom teachers based on availability and scheduling.  Due to limitations with respect to class schedules, it’s not possible to request specific Fellows for your virtual visit.

I’m ready to book my Cyber Connections session! What should I do? 

Complete the Cyber Connections Request Form at least 2 weeks in advance of when you hope to have a speaker join your class(es). We understand that sometimes you may have a last minute opening in your schedule; we will do our best to schedule requests for sessions with less than 2 weeks notice but cannot guarantee availability.

Questions? 

Kara Berger (kberger@towson.edu).