CyberPatriot IX Results - State Award Winners from Moore County Schools

CyberPatriot season IX is in the books for Union Pines High School team 10668, Syntax Error. The Navy JROTC team seen below navigated 4 rounds of competition, gathering awards and leaving other teams in their wake. Don’t let the friendly faces fool you, these are trained cyber fighters.

From left to right: Charlotte Craven, Eric Hutchison, Nick Mihalovich (Cpt), AJ Sanders, & Brendan Bemis. Not shown: Team 10668 Sponsors MGySgt Keith Dangerfield & Capt. John Ferguson, Coach Will Herring

What is CyberPatriot? CyberPatriot is an annual competition among civilian and JROTC, high school teams stretching five continents. It was created and is run by the Air Force Association in connection with Northrup Grumman and Cisco Systems. It tests student teams' ability to detect, deflect and prevent ongoing cyber attacks of various computer systems.

Student teams "play" through the cyber-breach scenarios created by AFA/NorthrupGrumman during marathon-like sessions, Saturdays throughout the fall and winter. Students have to possess great skill, teamwork, and tenacity to be successful in the competition.

“The competition puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening the system while maintaining critical services...” (CyberPatriot Website, February 26, 2017)

Link to AFA CYberPatriot Website

Syntax Error  scored well in the first two rounds of the international competition and earned an invitation to the “Gold Tier” end-of-season tournament. There, the team came in 2nd of all-service teams in North Carolina winning an award and advanced to the semi-final “Category” round of the end game.

Why we Compete and Your Group Should Too: CyberPatriot is fun! The live scoreboard and team nature of the events makes this program one to which students are drawn and compelled to help each other grow and succeed. Participants learn to work towards common goals, critical thinking, problem analysis, problem solving, leadership competencies, and that doesn’t even touch the future life and career skills that come from deeply understanding technology and cyber security. Through the game, students learn the underlying competencies that demystify an increasingly interconnected world and prepare them to thrive there.

“By participating in CyberPatriot, students are introduced to an exciting and lucrative career path. In addition to learning teamwork and organizational skills that set them apart in the STEM job market, Competitors benefit from direct tutelage by industry professionals that volunteer through the CyberPatriot Mentor Program.” (CyberPatriot Website, February 26, 2017)

What’s Next: Practices have already begun for CyberPatriot season X. The teams going back to basics, tearing down cpu towers to build the foundation for success in the fall. The success of team 10668 has drawn in new interest and UPHS looks to host more teams next year. Thanks to the ongoing support through grants from the Moore County Schools Public Education Foundation, UPHS will have the devices and funding to expand this opportunity to all of our students thinking about CyberSecurity and/or Computer Science careers.

Halloween is coming but Mrs. Futral isn't afraid

Integrating technology can be scary. 

Technology is constantly changing. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance. Especially when the computer, iPad, app, robot, chromebook, website (you see where I am going with this) is not working like it should. It is easy to become frustrated. But through it all, Johnna Futral knows that integrating technology is worth the risk. I have worked with Johnna over the past three years and she has become one of my closest allies in the world of digital learning. I know that if there is something new that I would like to take for a test drive I can approach Johnna and she will be eager to give it a shot. Not only is she open to my suggestions, she's an advocate for the benefits of digital learning. I wanted to share her teaching pedagogy that includes using technology to enhance her instruction so that other educators may see that the rewards are worth the risks that you take when you step out of your comfort zone. Here's a piece of my interview with another one of Moore County's finest:

Question: How long have you been a teacher in Moore County Schools?

Answer: This is my eighteenth years teaching. All in Moore County Schools. I’ve taught second grade for seven years, Kindergarten for seven years and two years in fourth grade. I also worked as an assistant for two years.

Q: How would you describe your teaching style?

A: My teaching philosophy has always been that high expectations lead to high achievers. I like a lot of movement in the classroom. I like to change things on a whim. I’d like to say that I’m organized enough that I’m effective but if something isn’t working I like to change it on the fly. I’d say I’m a little bit of a “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of teacher. It depends on what the kids need. What I think when I’m planning may be different than what happens when I’m actually teaching. I also like a lot of creative in the classroom. I like to integrate arts and science because the kids enjoy it and I bring that passion so then the kids get excited.

Q: You often integrate technology in your lessons. How does technology enhance your instruction?

A: For one thing, when the kids are using technology they are a lot more engaged compared to when they’re talking to their classmates. I think it has a lot to do with the world we’re living in. It enhances teaching when you bring in something they're familiar with. 21st century learners must be fluent with technology to be able to function as an adult. Showing students those skills of creating, collaboration, and publishing prepares them for what’s to come in their future. They still need to be able to talk through their thinking as well. That way we don’t take out the personal connection part.

Q: What are some of your favorite lessons that included technology?

A: I especially enjoyed the solar oven engineering lesson where our students created a plan, then made and tested, as well as improved a way of using the energy from the sun to make s’mores. I also enjoyed the Lego robotics lessons where our students created and programed robots that supplemented math lessons in measurement and comparing numbers. You can see the kids enjoy these lessons and you know the content will stick with them because of how much they enjoy it. Even though some of those lessons are harder to prepare for, it turns out being some of the best lessons. Once we got out there to see that something they created was successful when the sun had melted our chocolate...they’ll remember that forever..

Q: What would you say to a teacher who may be reluctant to use technology with their students?

A: I would say to utilize your resources. If your Digital Integration Facilitator is offering to give you help, you should take advantage of that resource because if you’re not comfortable with technology, your DIF is so you’ll be able to step outside of your comfort zone and then you’ll grow as a teacher. You are more likely to try something new when you’re working with a DIF. Until I see it, I don’t understand how it works. The only way you’re growing to grow as an educator is to step outside of the box of comfort. No one is going to grow until they take risks. Just like we tell our students. I often find that if I do take a risk and fail it’s a good lesson for my students as well. You teach them perseverance and not to give up with some things are hard.

Q: Does your principal affect your motivation or desire to use technology?

A: No. I think he’s very tech savy. It’s something that I do on my own because I think it’s beneficial.

Q: You’re an inspiration to many people, including myself, what inspires you?

A: From the time I was a small child I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I was inspired at a young age by my kindergarten teacher. I don’t know exactly what it was but she was a huge inspiration for me. I even did an internship where I went back into her classroom and worked with her.  My children also inspire me. My colleagues inspire me. I get inspired by other educators. I think that my daughter inspires me and that I inspire her as well as my students. They’re so much love in a school building that is enough in itself to be inspiring. I like to have fun. I don’t like to do things like in the olden days. I like to be creative and I think teaching allows me to do that.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a teacher?

A: I think my favorite part is the kids and how much they love you. It’s like having a classroom full of your own children that you mold and shape. Even though you send them home at the end of everyday you still think about them. Why else would you be a teacher? It’s about the kids. I like to see them excited about things. Like today, when they were building their robots today that’s something they were excited about.

This is Mrs. Futral's first year at Cameron Elementary School and they are beyond lucky to have such an amazing teacher. If I had kids, I would love for them to have her as their teacher. She is a phenomenal educator and I absolutely love collaborating with her.

Welcome to the World of Augmented Reality!

  A new trend in technology is here, and you should be a part of it! If you are interested in making your ordinary lessons extraordinary, the world of augmented reality (AR) is probably for you. Last year I learned about AR at the NCTIES conference in Raleigh, and was completely in awe. This technology opens so many doors for our students and allows teachers to instruct in a unique way. 

  An augmented reality environment, includes elements of the real world and virtual world simultaneously. AR has been around for years, but has recently become more developed to use in the classroom. There are a series of AR apps that are available for IOS and Android devices for free, and are easy to use. Below I will highlight a couple of my favorite AR apps and how you can implement them into your instruction.

   Anatomy 4D

 

I have never heard more "oohs and aahs" then when showing this app to students and teachers. This app was developed by the company DAQRI, and allows users to experience the human body in a 4D environment. This is a terrific way to supplement instruction on the human body and cardiovascular system. To use Anatomy 4D, the user will need to go to the DAQRI website and print the two sheets needed for the app (human body and heart). After these sheets are printed, they can be scanned to get an amazing view of the body systems.

  AR Flashcards

The beauty of AR Flashcards, is that there are several topics of study within one app. I have shown this to kindergarten through third grade teachers, and many are eager to implement this next year. With this app, children can practice naming letters of the alphabet, shapes, and planets. Simply go to the AR Flashcards website, and print off the pages of your choice. This a terrific tool for younger students to practice foundational skills, in a bright new way!

I hope you give augmented reality an opportunity to enhance instruction in your classroom!
~Deanna Boesch