Dive Brief:

• Iowa State University has developed a cyber security curriculum that it hopes to release to middle and high school classrooms this fall.
• The course, which is part workshop and part video, will cover topics such as malicious software, scams and spam, and unsecured wireless networks.
• Doug Jacobson, an ISU computer engineer professor, says the course is particularly relevant as more schools push 1:1 initiatives into classrooms.

Dive Insight:

The concept of a free computer literacy course was introduced to educators at the IT-Olympics computer competition that Iowa State University hosted earlier this year, and according to Jacobson, 15 schools have already shown interest in the course.

Interestingly, Jacobson says the courses are a bit two-pronged. While cyber security is clearly the main focus, there is also the hope that students will become more interested in computers through the course as a result of taking it.

As questions about student data privacy get more media attention, it seems appropriate that students understand what is at stake and are aware of proper protocol to keep their identities and data safeguarded.