The NCF Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines (CCG) were created to encourage curriculum providers, teachers, and industry to create curriculum designed to inspire high school students to pursue a profession in cybersecurity, as well as develop thinkers with a cybersecurity mindset that will enhance any profession they pursue.
Seeing the need for a coherent set of guidelines, a team of K-12 educators, post-secondary educators, and cybersecurity experts, now known as Teach Cyber, in partnership with the NCF, developed these Guidelines. View the menu items below to learn more about the Guidelines and to download a PDF of the Guidelines & Glossary.
Teach Cyber has now also created teaching materials for educators ready to teach high school cybersecurity. The Teach Cyber courseware is creative commons licensed, giving educators the rights to adopt, adapt, and disseminate the Teach Cyber course.
As of early September 2021, this important effort is starting to see significant progress as noted below:
- Over 500 educators across 47 states and U.S. territories are engaged in reviewing and improving the CCG.
- More than 800 educators across 47 states and U.S. territories have registered for Teach Cyber since it launched in Fall 2020.
- Excellent feedback from educators.
CCG News Articles & Press Releases
ABOUT THE GUIDELINES
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As more high school teachers integrate cybersecurity into their classrooms, the need for coherent High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines becomes more pressing. Click on the section title to learn more.
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As cybersecurity becomes a part of nearly every aspect of society, an important prerequisite is interest, the ability to problem-solve, and a curious nature. Click on the section title to learn more.
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Modeled after the AP Computer Science Principles curriculum framework - click on the section title to learn more about how the developers created these new High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines.
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The Guidelines have four levels: big ideas, enduring understandings, learning objectives, and essential knowledge statements. Click on the section title to learn more.
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The "Big Ideas" within the Guidelines are broad, encompassing areas of importance to cybersecurity. These videos offer a brief synopsis of each Big Idea. View an Introduction to the Guidelines video below.
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Download the latest version of the Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines and Glossary.
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Great initiatives such as the High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines are made possible thanks to the generous support of forward-thinking corporations and organizations. Click on the section title to learn about those who are supporting the Guidelines to date.
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The professionals who developed the Guidelines bring together an impressive array of knowledge and expertise in fields such as cybersecurity, education, computer science, and technology. Click on the section title to learn about Dr. Melissa Dark, Dr, Jenny Daugherty, Mr. Mark Emry, Dr. Dan Massey, and Ms. Jennifer Peyrot.
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Your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions are invaluable to us. After fully exploring the Guidelines, we encourage you to please complete this brief FEEDBACK FORM.
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TeachCyber.org has developed an 8-unit course based on the Guidelines. The course is modular so it can be adapted to a semester, 9 weeks, or for integration into existing CS/IT courses The materials are creative commons licenses for teachers' use, adaptation, and dissemination. The only restriction is no commercial profit. Visit TeachCyber.org and register (no cost) to access the materials. The non-profit Teach Cyber is a subsidiary of Dark Enterprises and a Foundation partner.
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The feedback from educators across the U.S. continues to be extremely positive with the course lessons making instruction much more easier, more effective, and inspiring confidence in both instructors and students. Click to see examples of the feedback Teach Cyber is receiving.
A VIDEO INTRODUCTION
This video provides a brief overview of the High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines.