AI among topics covered by AGENT Initiative

Twenty-seven teachers from north Georgia schools attended the fourth University of North Georgia (UNG) Advancing GenCyber Education for North Georgia Teachers (AGENT) Initiative from June 3-7. Mid-week their focus was artificial intelligence (AI) and they engaged members of UNG's Summer Honors Program to better understand how students view and want to learn about the topic.

Veteran teacher Curt Hitchens from the Walker County school system has attended twice.

"I've chosen to attend the AGENT Initiative over the last two years because I want to provide my students with computer science and cybersecurity opportunities that don't exist in their local communities," Hitchens said. "Attending this academy has also helped me to expand my network of computer science and cybersecurity teachers."

During a presentation by Dr. Tamirat Abegaz, a UNG associate professor of cybersecurity, about AI, the teachers and Summer Honors participants engaged in a question-and-answer session about the future of AI, something Grayson Ludington, a rising senior at Pickens County High School, enjoyed.

"I really liked the reverse mentorship component and having the opportunity to give our input. It's understated how little we get to do that," Ludington said. "I was really glad we were able to talk to them and they were able to ask us questions like how we can get more people into cybersecurity, what would you look for in a teacher, what makes a successful teacher, what doesn't, and being able to give our input on the subject."

Katherine Perez, a rising senior from East Hall High School, also enjoyed engaging with the teachers.   

"Getting to know the teachers who teach cybersecurity and seeing how enthusiastic they are about the subject and how much they care about their students was really cool," the Gainesville, Georgia, resident said. "It was really fun to talk to them. I haven't had a cyber class, and I learned a lot, like how unsafe my password is and how I need to change it."

The teachers and students also had an opportunity to meet Kali, an autonomous, programmable humanoid Nao robot, and a highlight of the day's event.

"Interacting with the robot was awesome. I've never seen something like that. It was great," Ludington said of receiving a fist bump from Kali.

Like the students, Hitchens enjoyed the event and encouraged others to attend.

"As teachers, our personal mission should be to help prepare students for college, work and life. Attending the AGENT Initiative provides us with the contacts, experiences, knowledge, and skills to accomplish our mission," Hitchens said.

Funding for the initiative came from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Defense.

"This funding from the NSA and Department of Defense allowed us to teach 27 teachers who will impact over 4,000 students per year with hands-on lessons in cybersecurity. The GenCyber program is one of our greatest force-multipliers. We get to reach thousands of students through the highly motivated teachers who come to our summer cyber program," Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science and information systems and coordinator of student cyber programs, said.