KS3 micro:bit cyber security intro

Unit of 3 lessons aimed at KS3 Year 7 in England. Students gain a greater understanding of the importance of cyber security and explore the need to create strong password before writing algorithms and programs to create their own ‘strong password generator’ using the BBC micro:bit. Ideally, this unit should be taught after ‘Computing fundamentals’.

The Lesson comprises 3 lessons of approx. 60 minutes

1. Cyber security and ethical hacking
2. Password generator algorithms
3. Password generator programming, testing and evaluation
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Learning objectives

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science
• have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs to solve problems
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
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Additional skills
Problem-solving, collaboration, creative thinking.
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Included resources

• Lesson plan Word docs
• Lesson slides PowerPoints
• Student handouts
• micro:bit program files
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England KS3 Computing curriculum links

• design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems
• use logical reasoning to compare the utility of alternative algorithms for the same problem
• use two or more programming languages, at least one of which is textual, to solve a variety of computational problems
• understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting their online identity and privacy; recognise inappropriate content, contact and conduct and know how to report concerns