Activity 16: Protect Your Password

Learning the Importance of Strong Passwords

Description

In this activity, students will learn about the importance of creating strong passwords to protect their online accounts. Through interactive games and discussions, students will understand the concept of a strong password, learn why weak passwords can be easily guessed, and practice creating secure passwords using a mix of characters. This hands-on activity helps introduce cybersecurity concepts and promotes safe online behavior.

Materials Required

• Whiteboard or digital presentation for demonstrating concepts
• Paper and pencils for password creation practice
• Printouts or projector for displaying examples of strong and weak passwords
• Online password strength meter

Steps to Conduct the Activity

Step 1: Introduction to Passwords

• Start by asking students what passwords are and why they are used.
• Explain that passwords help protect personal information from being accessed by others online.
• Discuss the importance of using passwords that are hard to guess, and introduce the term “strong password.”

Step 2: What Makes a Strong Password?

• Write examples of weak passwords on the board (e.g., 123456, password, abc123) and explain why these are easy to guess.
• Discuss what makes a strong password, including:
  • A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
  • Numbers
  • Symbols (e.g., @, #, $, etc.)
  • Avoiding common words or personal information (like names and birthdays)

Step 3: Password Creation Game

• Divide the students into small groups.
• Challenge each group to come up with a easy password and a strong password following the rules discussed.
• Give them a reason to come up with this idea (Like a treasure password).
• Once groups have created their passwords, have them test their passwords using an online password strength meter
• Then have a game play out where different group guess each of their passwords to see if it is easy to guess the passwords.

Step 4: Password Protection Tips

• Discuss how to keep passwords safe:
  • Don’t share passwords with others.
  • Use different passwords for different websites.
  • Change passwords regularly.
  • Use a password manager.

Step 5: Reflection and Wrap-Up

• Ask students why it’s important to use strong passwords and how they can protect themselves online.
• Let them share their own tips for staying safe online.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this activity, students should:

• Understand the importance of strong passwords in cybersecurity.
• Learn how to create secure passwords using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Recognize the risks of using weak passwords and sharing them with others.
• Gain confidence in protecting their personal information online.