A Real-World Cybersecurity Experience
When St. George School students walked through the locked doors of the University of Ottawa’s IBM Cyber Range this Spring, the learning suddenly felt very real.
Inside the secure lab, surrounded by professional technology and real-world cybersecurity tools, students were no longer simply participating in a school club or competition. They were thinking like investigators, solving problems like cybersecurity professionals, and seeing firsthand where their learning could take them.
The visit brought together two Grade 6 CyberPatriot teams who had already competed this year, along with two Grade 5 teams eager to begin preparing for next year’s competition.
Inside the IBM Cyber Range
For the students, the day was a highlight in an already exciting year. Walking through the locked, keypass-secured door into the IBM Cyber Range made an immediate impression. The professional setup and advanced technology helped students see that the skills they have been building through their school club are connected to real work happening in the field.
Solving a Simulated Cyber Attack
During the workshop, students investigated a simulated cyber attack involving a student’s work that had been stolen and submitted by someone else. Using commands and their knowledge of how computers store and mark files, they examined evidence, traced activity, and identified the IP address used to submit the stolen work.
Deep Learning in Action
The visit was also a strong example of Deep Learning at OCSB. Students were not simply hearing about cybersecurity or following a set of steps. They were applying what they had learned, asking questions, testing ideas, and using evidence to solve a real problem.
That kind of learning asks students to think carefully, work with others, and stay with a challenge even when the answer is not obvious. It also aligns with OCSB’s #BeInnovative mindset, where students build confidence by using technology with purpose, curiosity, and care.
Learning Alongside OCSB Staff
The visit was led by teacher and CyberPatriot coach Calum MacKenzie, with support from Learning Technologies team members Jennifer Stoqua and Brett Walker, who added another important layer to the day. Students noticed how openly the adults approached the learning. When they did not know an answer, they said so and worked through the problem alongside the students. That willingness to keep learning made a strong impression.
It reinforced a lesson the teams had been hearing all year: no one knows everything, including people who work in learning technology and IT. A key skill is knowing how to search, test, ask better questions, and keep going until you find a solution.
A Head Start for Next Year
For the Grade 5 students, the workshop offered a glimpse of what next year’s CyberPatriot competition could look like. For the Grade 6 students, it confirmed that the work they had done was more than a school activity. It was connected to real skills, real tools, and possible future pathways.
“It gave them a great head start for next year and helped build real excitement about what the competition could look like. They could see that this work is not just a school project. It is real, and it can open the door to something pretty amazing in the future.” Says Calum.
Learning That Continues at Home
That spark has already continued beyond the workshop. Some students have gone home to research cybersecurity topics on their own and to ask about installing virtual machines so they can practice commands and navigate various Linux-based operating systems, and learn safely without affecting a family computer.
For any teacher, that is a powerful sign. Students are not only learning the material. They are seeing where it can take them.
