Why the new box-free version is perfect for your pupils
How could we improve the original free cyber education puzzle game Cyber Challenge in a Box?
The answer was staring us in the face: get rid of the box.
Cyber Challenge in a Box is now fully online, but still offers the same point-and-click adventure which will intrigue and puzzle students, as well as introducing key cybersecurity concepts.
Completely free, it’s accessible on the Cyber Security Challenge UK website, and was produced by experts from CSC UK with funding from the National Crime Agency.
It’s perfect for Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils
The cyber challenge is built to introduce what cyber security is and why it matters to Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils aged up to 14 years.
The point-and-click game works on PC, tablet or smartphone, with a James Bond-esque scenario (a cyber gang has set its sights on the UK and you must find out who it is, their plans, and how to stop them) and introduces ideas through a series of object puzzles.
Students boost coding and password-cracking skills
Students will decipher codes with equipment ranging from dictionaries to a ‘flags of the world’ book and a password-protected laptop.
Students will use ciphers, code breaking and audio manipulation to crack the puzzles, with hints available if anything is too tough.
Think of it as like an escape room, but educational.
It works well in the classroom
The immersive challenge, which can be completed in around an hour, works well with young people working in teams to crack the puzzles, with a teacher overseeing.
It works best with two to four players per game.
The game is in ‘point-and-click’ format, so it works well with a group of players sitting around one desktop PC and trying to solve the puzzles.
Pupils also learn about online safety
The game is a race against time with students sifting through evidence and solving clues, and the James Bond-style plot also teaches key concepts around online safety.
From passwords carelessly discarded in a bin to badly-shredded paper, the game offers key lessons in online safety which educators can then expand on.
The game also helps to demonstrate the morals that are lines drawn in ethical hacking and offer young people some of the basic skills they need to stay safe online.
There is no box
Everything you need to play Cyber Challenge in a Box can be accessed directly through CSC UK’s site, and the game’s interface is simple enough for 12-14-year-olds to get going without tuition.
Set a time limit, challenge children to thwart an imminent cyber attack on the UK, and hopefully the game will inspire students to pick STEM subjects for GCSE.
Want to use CCIAB with your Key Stage 2 or 3 pupils? Get in touch for tips and ideas on how to bring the game to life. To play CCIAB with your students, just click here