NW Valley Times

K12 teachers engaged in a network-building exercise at the GCU GenCyber Teacher Camp on Tuesday, assembling a puzzle that represented a photograph being reassembled before arriving as a text message. The activity aimed to illustrate data transmission processes.

“Those are some very beautiful pictures we’re sending to grandma,” said Steven Faulkner, technology instructor and coordinator of Grand Canyon University’s Cyber Center of Excellence, on Day 2 of the weeklong camp.

Instead of sending the photos via phone, 35 Arizona junior high and high school teachers received puzzle pieces through various doors. They returned to tables representing different routers, experiencing moments of chaos. “It’s a constant Whac-a-Mole,” one teacher described.

At this week's camp, teachers planned lessons, competed in capture-the-flag exercises, and learned activities for teaching cybersecurity at their schools. Their goal was to assemble the puzzle pieces with their team members. However, obstacles like collisions and virus encounters required them to restart or get reassigned pieces.

Team 1 emerged victorious by successfully assembling the puzzle. Other teams faced challenges from instructors and fellow teachers acting as viruses who stole their pieces.

GCU’s technology faculty designed this activity to demonstrate how data is broken into packets when sent through networks. Paul Dickerson and Sarah Eaves from Scottsdale Christian Academy celebrated their team’s victory in this exercise.

The camp is part of an initiative funded by a $100,000 GenCyber grant from the National Security Agency in collaboration with the National Science Foundation. GenCyber aims to raise awareness about cybersecurity and increase workforce participation since its inception in 2014.

“The purpose is to create awareness for cyber and bring people into the workforce,” said Dr. Pam Rowland, associate dean at GCU's College of Engineering and Technology.

In addition to the GenCyber grant, GCU received a $26,300 APS Foundation grant for STEM professional development in Navajo Nation school districts during the 2024-25 school year. This support helps address the global cybersecurity workforce gap estimated at 4 million people by ISC2.

In Arizona alone, nearly 10,000 cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled according to Cyber Seek’s Cybersecurity Supply/Demand Heat Map—a fraction of almost 470,000 openings nationally. Without these professionals, vulnerabilities increase for businesses and individuals facing data breaches costing an average of $4.45 million globally in 2023 per Ponemon Institute research.

“If we can provide teachers with information they can use in classes…that’s what’s going to decrease the gap as far as skills,” said Dwight Farris, GCU cyber/IT faculty lead.

Sophany Tibke from Chandler Unified School District found value in understanding network traffic through the packet building activity: “There’s a lot happening behind the click.” She appreciated her school's security measures more after participating in this exercise and was named superhero teacher of the day at camp.

Melanie Gonzalez from Edkey Sequoia Charter School praised the interactive nature of the camp: “… It gives teachers opportunities to engage their students.” Her team created a cybersecurity program after attending last year's workshop.

Joe Urbaszewski from GCU expressed fulfillment from helping teachers get excited about cyber education: “I like that they’re not just learning but collaborating.” He noted that past participants have created cyber programs inspired by their experiences at camp.

Doug Knuth from American Leadership Academy participated enthusiastically: “Every piece has been invaluable… I’m like a kid in a candy store.”

For further information or related content contact Lana Sweeten-Shults at [email protected] or call 602-639-7901.

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