Cybersecurity in Mathematics and Science (CiMS)

Cybersecurity is becoming an increased concern among young technology users. However, elementary school teachers often have limited preparation to teach students about cybersecurity. Additional challenges include teachers limited time and motivation to effectively incorporate cybersecurity topics into STEM lessons, limiting teachers ability to enhance students’ knowledge and confidence and spark students interest and involvement in cybersecurity. This project is designed to iteratively develop, refine, and test an innovative professional development program that supports teachers to infuse cybersecurity into 4th-5th grade mathematics and science instruction.

The project will synergistically merge cybersecurity with mathematics and science content in authentic, real-world contexts to teach topics such as cyberbullying, digital security, encryption/decryption, digital privacy, and digital footprint. This project seeks to enhance cybersecurity knowledge for elementary students across urban, suburban, and rural districts in North Carolina which can be extended to and tested in other states. The project will leverage interdisciplinary curriculum design to transform traditional approaches to mathematics, science, and cybersecurity instruction while providing research experiences for graduate and undergraduate students in mathematics and science education and educational technology.

This Design and Development project is funded by the Discovery Research preK-12 (DRK-12) program, which seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of innovative resources, models and tools. Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects.

This project has been funded by the National Science Foundation Award No. 2405230