Name: Dalton Lewis

Date: 9/21/2025

Company/Organization: ODU Innovations Lab

Reflection #1

Over the past 50 hours of my internship with the ODU Innovations Lab, I have focused on developing introductory cybersecurity learning materials for high school students. Since this is the beginning stage of the project, my contributions have centered around creating basic lesson concepts that introduce students to the fundamentals of cybersecurity in an approachable and engaging way. The goal at this stage has been to lay a solid foundation before moving on to more advanced simulations or project-based challenges.

One of the first activities I worked on was drafting a simple lesson to introduce students to the idea of cybersecurity and why it matters. This activity included real-world examples of how cybersecurity affects everyday life, such as protecting smartphones, keeping personal information safe on social media, and the importance of strong passwords. I created a short guided notes handout where students could define key terms like ‘cybersecurity,’ ‘threat,’ and ‘vulnerability’ in their own words. This helps ensure they are not just memorizing definitions but actually understanding them.

I also developed a basic password strength activity where students compare weak and strong passwords and practice creating their own secure examples. To make the lesson interactive, I included a simple checklist for what makes a password stronger, such as using symbols, mixing uppercase and lowercase letters, and avoiding common words. The goal of this activity is to give students practical skills they can apply immediately.

Another contribution I made was organizing a lesson outline on internet safety. This included topics such as recognizing suspicious links, understanding the risks of oversharing personal information online, and the importance of verifying sources before clicking or sharing content. I structured the lesson around relatable scenarios that high school students may encounter, such as being asked to share their login information or getting a direct message from an unfamiliar account. By connecting the material to situations they might actually face, the lessons become more meaningful and easier to understand.

To ensure consistency, I also reviewed the existing curriculum framework and grading rubrics used by the Innovations Lab. I drafted my lessons in the same style as other student-facing documents so that the new cybersecurity materials will blend smoothly into the overall program. This will allow teachers to evaluate student understanding in a familiar way while introducing new content areas.

Overall, my first 50 hours at ODU Innovations Lab have focused on designing introductory-level activities that introduce students to the basic principles of cybersecurity. While these are small steps, they establish an important foundation for later modules that will dive deeper into specific areas like digital forensics, network security, and project-based challenges. Through this experience, I am learning how to take complex topics and break them down into lessons that are engaging, simple, and useful for high school students.

In conclusion, the initial stage of my internship has given me the opportunity to build the groundwork for a cybersecurity curriculum. By creating lessons on cybersecurity basics, password safety, and internet awareness, I am helping to prepare students for more advanced activities in the future. Moving forward, I plan to expand on these introductory modules and begin developing more interactive, project-based learning experiences that will challenge students to apply what they have learned in real-world scenarios.