Penn State Berks 2017 GenCyber programs end with a high node. On February 24, 2018 15 junior high school students from the Penn State Educational Partnership Program (PEPP) were very busy scrambling messages, breaking codes, and a learning about cyber security careers in a workshop, which was the last of a series activities funded by GenCyber program of the National Security Agency.  In the last event of the program, PEPP students learned about cybersecurity and cryptography with a little twist: they did not use any computers.  PEPP students designed and created encryption devices using sticks, cardboards, glue, and. They learned working principles of the Enigma Encryption machine.  Furthermore, they learned about on safe-behavior.

The GenCyber program provides cybersecurity experiences for students and teachers at the K-12 level.  The program was established by the NSA and partially funded by the NSF with the vision of being part of the solution to the Nation’s shortfall of skilled cybersecurity professionals as we become even more reliant on cyber-based technology in every aspect of our daily lives.  The objectives of the program are to increase interest in cybersecurity careers and diversity in the cybersecurity workforce of the nation, help all students understand correct and safe on-line behavior and how they can be good digital citizens, and improve teaching methods for delivery of cybersecurity content in K-12 curricula.