It’s a whole new dangerous cyber world out there, and researchers at
CMU’s Information Networking Institute are doing something about it on a national level.
“Carnegie Cadets: The MySecure Cyberspace Game” was launched with the help of state Attorney General Tom Corbett and piloted locally in Moon and Fox Chapel school districts before its national release. The game, targeted for children in grades 4 to 6, puts players in the care of Commander Omni who moves through the world of Cyberspace on challenging missions. Children learn how to protect themselves from Cyber Villians like Elvirus and M.C. Spammer while the principles of safe and appropriate online behavior are reinforced.
Children learn how to spot spam, what not to say in chat rooms, and how to find reliable information for school projects “We embedded Disney humor, so we engage adults in the game too,” laughs Dena Haritos Tsamitis, director of INI and CyLab, partners in the venture. The game and cyber safety information is available for free online to the public. Click here to try it.
The program was inspired by Haritos Tsamitis participation on the Homeland Security Task Force for cyber awareness. Foreign governments have approached her to provide versions in other languages.
“This has an opportunity to reach millions of kids across the country, she adds. “We felt it was important to start with young children, to mold their behavior, condition them to knowing that this is a safety measure they need to take like putting on a seat belt.”
Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Dena Haritos Tsamitis
Image courtesy of Carnegie Cyber Academy