Lessons

Cybersecurity Career Exploration

Cybersecurity concept image

Cybersecurity concept (MF3d, iStockphoto)

Cybersecurity concept image

Cybersecurity concept (MF3d, iStockphoto)

Guidance & Careers,  Technology & Engineering
Michael D'Addario

How does this align with my curriculum?

Curriculum Alignment
AB 8 Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) (revised 2019) CTF is exploring interests, passions and skills while making personal connections to career possibilities.
AB 8 Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) (revised 2019) CTF is working independently and with others while exploring careers and technology.
AB 9 Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) (revised 2019) CTF is exploring interests, passions and skills while making personal connections to career possibilities.
AB 10 CTR1010: Job Preparation (2016) Job Preparation
AB 9 Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) (revised 2019) CTF is working independently and with others while exploring careers and technology.
ON 11 Communications Technology, Grade 11 University/College Preparation (TGJ3M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Communications Technology, Grade 12 (TGJ4M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Computer Engineering Technology, Grade 11, University/College Preparation (TEJ3M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Computer Engineering Technology, Grade 12, University/College Preparation (TEJ4M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Transportation Technology, Grade 11, College Preparation (TTJ3C) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Transportation Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation (TTJ4C) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Grade 11, University/College Preparation (TMJ3M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Grade 12, University/College Preparation (TMJ4M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Hospitality and Tourism, Grade 11, College Preparation (TFJ3C)(2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Hospitality and Tourism, Grade 12, College Preparation (TFJ4C) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Health Care, Grade 11, University/College Preparation (TPJ3M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Health Care, Grade 12, University/College Preparation (TPJ4M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Hairstyling and Aesthetics, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation (TXJ3E) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Hairstyling and Aesthetics, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation (TXJ4E) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Green Industries, Grade 11, University/College Preparation (THJ3M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Green Industries, Grade 12, University/College Preparation (THJ4M) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 9 Exploring Technologies, Grade 9, Open (TIJ1O) (2009) Strand D: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 11 Construction Engineering Technology, Grade 11, College Preparation (TCJ3C) (2009) Strand E: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
ON 12 Construction Engineering Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation (TCJ4C) (2009) Strand E: Professional Practices and Career Opportunities
PE 9 Science Grade 9 (revised 2018) Decisions and Perspectives
PE 10 Science 421A (2019) Decisions and Perspectives
PE 10 Career Exploration and Opportunities CEO401A (2019) Career Building
ON 12 Computer Programming (ICS4C) (2008) Strand D. Computers and Society
ON 10 Digital Technology and Innovations in the Changing World (2023) A. Computational Thinking and Making Connections
ON 10 Digital Technology and Innovations in the Changing World (2023) C. Programming
ON 11 Introduction to Computer Science (ICS3U) Strand D. Topics in Computer Science
ON 12 Computer Science (ICS4U) (2008) Strand D. Topics in Computer Science
ON 10 Digital Technology and Innovations in the Changing World (2023) B. Hardware, Software, and Innovations
ON 10 Introduction to Computer Studies (ICS2O) Strand C. Computers and Society
AB 11 CTR2310: Career Directions - Expansion (2015) Career Directions
AB 12 CTR3310: Career Directions - Transitions (2015) Career Directions
BC 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Our career paths reflect the personal, community, and educational choices we make.
BC 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: Our career paths reflect the personal, community, and educational choices we make.
BC 10 Career-Life Education (2018) Big Idea: Career-life choices are made in a recurring cycle of planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
BC 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life development includes ongoing cycles of exploring, planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
BC 11 Career-Life Education (2018) Big Idea: Career-life choices are made in a recurring cycle of planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
BC 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life development includes ongoing cycles of exploring, planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
BC 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life decisions influence and are influenced by internal and external factors, including local and global trends.
BC 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Engaging in networks and reciprocal relationships can guide and broaden career-life awareness and options.
BC 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Lifelong learning and active citizenship foster career-life opportunities for people and communities.
BC 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Reflecting on our preferences and skills helps us identify the steps we need to take to achieve our career goals.
BC 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: The value of work in our lives, communities, and society can be viewed from diverse perspectives.
BC 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Achieving our learning goals requires effort and perseverance.
BC 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Adapting to economic and labour market changes requires flexibility.
BC 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life decisions influence and are influenced by internal and external factors, including local and global trends.
BC 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Engaging in networks and reciprocal relationships can guide and broaden career-life awareness and options.
BC 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Lifelong learning and active citizenship foster career-life opportunities for people and communities.
BC 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: Reflecting on our preferences and skills helps us identify the steps we need to take to achieve our career goals.
BC 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: The value of work in our lives, communities, and society can be viewed from diverse perspectives.
BC 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: Achieving our learning goals requires effort and perseverance.
MB 12 Grade 12 Career Development: Life/Work Transitioning (2017) Unit 3: Learning and Planning
MB 10 Grade 10 Career Development: Life/Work Planning (2017) Unit 3: Learning and Planning
MB 11 Grade 11 Career Development: Life/Work Building (2017) Unit 3: Learning and Planning
ON 10 Career Studies Grade 10, OPEN (GLC2O) (2019) Strand B. Exploring and Preparing for the World of Work
ON 10 Career Studies Grade 10, OPEN (GLC2O) (2019) Strand C. Planning and Financial Management to Help Meet Postsecondary Goals
ON 10 Career Studies Grade 10, OPEN (GLC2O) (2019) Strand A. Developing the Skills, Strategies, and Habits Needed to Succeed
PE 10 Career Exploration and Opportunities CEO401A (2019) Financial Literacy
YT 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Our career paths reflect the personal, community, and educational choices we make.
YT 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Reflecting on our preferences and skills helps us identify the steps we need to take to achieve our career goals.
YT 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: The value of work in our lives, communities, and society can be viewed from diverse perspectives.
YT 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Achieving our learning goals requires effort and perseverance.
YT 8 Career Education 8 (2016) Big Idea: Adapting to economic and labour market changes requires flexibility.
YT 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: Reflecting on our preferences and skills helps us identify the steps we need to take to achieve our career goals.
YT 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: The value of work in our lives, communities, and society can be viewed from diverse perspectives.
YT 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: Our career paths reflect the personal, community, and educational choices we make.
YT 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: Achieving our learning goals requires effort and perseverance.
YT 9 Career Education 9 (2016) Big Idea: Adapting to economic and labour market changes requires flexibility.
YT 10 Career-Life Education (2018) Big Idea: Career-life choices are made in a recurring cycle of planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
YT 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life development includes ongoing cycles of exploring, planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
YT 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life decisions influence and are influenced by internal and external factors, including local and global trends.
YT 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Engaging in networks and reciprocal relationships can guide and broaden career-life awareness and options.
YT 11 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Lifelong learning and active citizenship foster career-life opportunities for people and communities.
YT 11 Career-Life Education (2018) Big Idea: Career-life choices are made in a recurring cycle of planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
YT 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life development includes ongoing cycles of exploring, planning, reflecting, adapting, and deciding.
YT 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Career-life decisions influence and are influenced by internal and external factors, including local and global trends.
YT 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Engaging in networks and reciprocal relationships can guide and broaden career-life awareness and options.
YT 12 Career-Life Connections (2018) Big Idea: Lifelong learning and active citizenship foster career-life opportunities for people and communities.
SK 9 Career Education 9 (2008) Life and Work Plan (LW)

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Students will explore different possible working environments related to the field of cybersecurity.

Summary

  • Students will explore two careers of their choice in the field of Cybersecurity.
  • Students will investigate the projected trending job market for the field of Cybersecurity. 
  • Students will investigate salary potential of different careers in the field of Cybersecurity.
Specific Expectations for Ontario

Introduction to Computer Studies (ICS2O):
C4. describe postsecondary education and career prospects related to computer studies.
C4.1 research and describe trends in careers that require computer skills, using local and national sources.

Introduction to Computer Science (ICS3U):
D3.1 research and describe career choices and trends in computer science, at the local, national, and international levels;
D3.3 research and report on postsecondary educational programs leading to careers in information systems and computer science.

Computer Science (ICS4U):
D4. research and report on different areas of research in computer science, and careers related to computer science.
D4.3 research and describe careers associated with computer studies (e.g., computer scientist, software engineer, systems analyst), and the postsecondary education required to prepare for them;

Computer Programming (ICS4C):
D4. research and report on the range of career paths and lifelong learning opportunities in software development or a computer-related field.
D4.1 research and report on the range of career opportunities in software development, including duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation;

Setting the Stage

Cybersecurity is a relatively new and growing field within the IT sector. Careers associated with cybersecurity range from entry to advanced and are in great demand globally. The following lesson will help students understand the wide field of cybersecurity and the potential careers this may hold. Students will explore the different opportunities for careers and advancement in cybersecurity. Students will select a specific cybersecurity career and explore in detail the working environment for each position.

Materials & Preparation

  • Computer or tablet with internet (1 per student)
  • Ability to watch a YouTube video
  • Cybersecurity Careers Pathway image [.png]
  • Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF] - 1 per student
  • Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer Sample Student Responses [PDF] - for teacher use
  • Cybersecurity Careers Exit Slip reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF] - 1 per student

What To Do

  • In this lesson students will investigate the types of careers in the field of cybersecurity. Teachers could start this lesson by having students view a video that provides an overview of cybersecurity.
  • Teachers could also demonstrate that Cybersecurity is an umbrella of different possible careers by having students view the Cybersecurity Careers Pathway image. Within each of those options are several possible career opportunities for students to investigate further.
Cybersecurity career pathways
Common Cybersecurity Career Pathways (©2020 Let’s Talk Science). 
Image - Text Version

Common Cybersecurity Career Pathways

Feeder Roles: Networking, Software Development, Systems Engineering, Financial Risk Analysis, Security Intelligence

Entry Level Roles: Cybersecurity Technician, Cyber Crime Investigator, Incident Analyst/Responder, IT Auditor

Mid-level Roles: Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Consultant, Penetration and Vulnerability Tester

Advanced Roles: Cybersecurity Manager/Administrator, Cybersecurity Engineer, Cybersecurity Architect

  • Teachers should ask students to choose one of the fields from the Cybersecurity Careers Pathway image. Using the Government of Canada Job Bank and/or the Monster.ca websites, students are to research their chosen career field. 
  • Teachers could provide students with a copy of the Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer Reproducible to gather and consolidate the information they find.
  • Teachers could use the Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer Sample Student Responses to help guide students in their research.
  • After students have completed their Cybersecurity Occupation Organizers, teachers could divide the class into two groups. Each group will alternate in a gallery walk with students in the other group presenting what they have learned. Each gallery walk could continue until each student has had an opportunity to share their learning, or ended after a set amount of time has passed. 
  • Teachers could use the Cybersecurity Careers Exit Slip to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on the investigation they have done.

Let’s Talk Science appreciates the work and contributions of Michael D'Addario from Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School, Toronto Catholic District School Board  in the development of this lesson.

Details

  • Teachers could evaluate students' completed Occupation Organizer worksheet.
  • Teachers could review students’ Exit Slips and provide feedback.
  • Cybersecurity Careers Pathway image [.png]
  • Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF]
  • Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer Sample Student Responses [PDF]
  • Cybersecurity Careers Exit Slip reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF]

Assessment

  • Teachers could evaluate students' completed Occupation Organizer worksheet.
  • Teachers could review students’ Exit Slips and provide feedback.

Downloads

  • Cybersecurity Careers Pathway image [.png]
  • Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF]
  • Cybersecurity Occupation Organizer Sample Student Responses [PDF]
  • Cybersecurity Careers Exit Slip reproducible [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF]

Related Topics

Career Options
Career Planning
Career Types
Computer Programming
Computer Science
Computer Studies
Cryptography
Cybersecurity
Emerging Technology