ICTC’s CyberBytes
Personal Development for Teachers
Developed for the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), CyberBytes will address the need for digital literacy education for teachers in grades K-12. CyberBytes will create a curriculum for teacher education in 4 key fields and will be made accessible online to teachers across the country. Teachers will complete 3 levels of training across each of the 4 key areas.
While the curriculum is still under development, the topics below will form the first iteration.
Cyber security and Privacy
Understanding how and why to secure devices and accounts is critical to avoiding both cyber crime victimization and accidental loss of personal information. This includes the concepts of Personal Information, privacy laws and individual rights.
Cyber in Culture and Society
Understanding our impact on the internet and its impact on our daily lives. This topic would include how to recognize and reject disinformation, cyber ethics, using tech to improve mental and physical well-being, utilizing the power of collaboration tools and digital communication.
Cyber Design and Evolution
Going beyond creating ‘digital art’, this topic will include concepts like user experience and program design, 3D modelling, virtual and augmented reality and the metaverse. Using technology to break down accessibility barriers and to conduct usability testing.
Your development, Your Input
CyberBytes is intended to address the digital skills gap that teachers are facing everyday in classrooms filled with students who are digital natives. Tell us about your everyday experiences and challenges with technology in the classroom so that we can develop curriculum to meet your needs.
Follow the project
We will get in touch with project updates and opportunities to pilot the material.
ICTC Digital Literacy & Skills Roadmap
Focus on Development
CyberBytes course levels will not be based on the age of the students you teach but rather on your personal mastery of the topic. In today’s world, teachers need to understand general cyber topics in order to be proficient in your personal use of digital technology. Being able to apply those skills in a classroom setting is considered mastery level.
Cyber Skills
While the greatest focus on teacher cyber skills to date has been on teaching teachers to teach coding, CyberBytes will empower teachers by providing them with the foundation for truly understanding the technology behind the coding for example.
Digital Comprehension
The CyberBytes curriculum and core competencies map to various frameworks and student curriculum. The focus of CyberBytes is on the teachers personal development and not on student training or classroom curriculum.
Skills Development
Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, CyberBytes will take teachers from remembering basic cyber facts and technology terms to comprehending, applying and analyzing concepts. Upon completion of the CyberBytes curriculum, teachers will be empowered to synthesize across skill areas and to create new materials and connections between their new cyber skills.
MegaByte
The Megabyte level of training (Intermediate) will provide teachers with the understanding required to be proficient in the topic and able to apply the knowledge to their work and personal lives.
GigaByte
The Gigabyte level of training (Mastery) will enable teachers to have a deep understanding of the topic and enable them to pass on their knowledge to their students.
Cyber Educator
Completing all 3 levels of the 4 key areas will take approximately 28 hours. Upon completion of all 12 levels of training, teachers will receive a Cyber Educator Certificate.
