Fairdale High School's cybersecurity program received a boost of excitement on November 6, 2024, as KC7, a non-profit organization dedicated to gamifying cybersecurity education, visited the campus for a day-long event. The initiative, organized by cybersecurity instructor Bryan Quillen, aimed to equip students with essential skills for tomorrow's diverse cybersecurity workforce.

A Game-Changing Approach to Cybersecurity Education

Simeon Kakpovi, President of KC7, and Greg Schloemer, Vice President, led the event, sharing their experiences and roles in cyber defense at Microsoft. The duo guided students through an immersive, hands-on learning experience that transformed complex cybersecurity concepts into an engaging game.

"KC7 is a game that lets you learn the skills to work with cybersecurity data and to work in this industry," explained Kakpovi. His journey into cybersecurity began with a college game, inspiring him to create KC7 about five years ago to introduce more college students to the field.

Schloemer emphasized their mission, stating, "Our goal is to train the next generation of cybersecurity talent." The team at KC7 believes in making cybersecurity both fun and accessible, recognizing that "the talent is there; we just have to give them a chance."

From Classroom to Real-World Application

Students in Fairdale's cybersecurity pathway worked in groups to complete the KC7 game, which involved sorting through digital artifacts, conducting investigations using query language, and developing case summaries and attribution reports.

The impact of this innovative approach was evident in student feedback. Yelenis, a student in the cybersecurity pathway, remarked, "The game is pretty hard, but it is cool to play." Although considering a career in finance, she noted how the program has influenced her social media habits and overall cybersecurity awareness.

Kevin, another student, shared how the pathway has made him more vigilant about cybersecurity in his personal life, particularly in avoiding phishing scams. Richard, aspiring to a career in offensive cybersecurity, found that KC7 has helped him see coding as a viable career path.

“Our goal is to train the next generation of cybersecurity talent.”

— Greg Schloemer, KC7 Vice President

A Growing Impact

KC7's influence extends beyond Fairdale High School. With 19,000 players worldwide and adoption by Microsoft for employee training, the platform is making significant strides in cybersecurity education. Bryan Quillen's program at Fairdale has become a model for other institutions, including a client in Ireland.

"Bryan has been the most forward-leading adopter at the high school level in the world," Kakpovi praised, highlighting the program's innovative approach. Mr. Quillen was the first teacher to use the game regularly in a high school class, and KC7 has even taken some of Fairdale students’ suggestions in designing the site. Currently, Mr. Quillen’s class is even working with KC7 to create a module to be used at the STLP state conference in April.

As KC7 continues to evolve, with its mascot Casey the Haccoon leading the charge, its goal remains clear: to become the number one way to teach cybersecurity globally. The non-profit status of KC7 ensures that this valuable resource remains affordable and accessible to students everywhere.

The visit to Fairdale High School demonstrates the power of gamification in education, particularly in complex fields like cybersecurity. By making learning engaging and relatable, KC7 is not just teaching skills; it's inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.