NEWS

College of Engineering and Science guides high school teachers, students through cyberspace

Jun 10, 2010 | Engineering and Science, General News

Twenty area high school teachers and 60 of their students are now better cyber-citizens after completing the College of Engineering and Science’s annual Cyber Discovery Camp at Louisiana Tech University.
In its third year, the goal of the camp is to demonstrate how to help rather than hinder security efforts by making participants aware of the benefits and dangers of cyberspace.  The camp also shows teachers how to integrate cyber into every element of the classroom, whether they are teaching mathematics, history, ethics, engineering, or the arts.
During the week-long camp, teachers and students are immersed in the issues of cyberspace, from basic programming of a ‘BOE-bot’ machine to the architectural design of a cyber fort; from writing essays on legal and policy issues to the development of a story-line for the camp’s Final Cyber Challenge.
Awards for the first, second and third place teams in the Final Cyber Challenge were given by the Cyber Innovation Center with funds available to enhance their school’s technology.  Dell also donated 20 computers which were used at the end of the camp.
This year, Benton High School took top honors followed by Ruston High School in second and Parkway High School, third.
Cyber Discovery Camp is funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant, with support from the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana.  The first Cyber Discovery Camp was held in the summer of 2008.  Since that time, the Cyber Innovation Center has partnered with Louisiana Tech on this new model for teacher professional development.
Written by Catherine Fraser – cfraser@latech.edu