Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Description
Frequently Asked Questions about CYBER.ORG Resources and Content
Main Content
WYSIWYG

How is CYBER.ORG able to provide its content for free?

  • CYBER.ORG is part of Cyber Innovation Center which is a 501c3 non-profit organization. We are funded in large part by CISA's CETAP grant which allows us to create and distribute high-quality cybersecurity content at no cost for K-12 educators in the United States and its territories.

 

 

CYBER.ORG RANGE

Where can I go to get training on how to use CYBER.ORG content or the CYBER.ORG Range?

  • We update our site frequently with in-person and virtual PDs. Check out our events page for more info. There is also a course in our LMS for self-paced PD opportunities.

Can I use the CYBER.ORG Range on a tablet/iPad/smartphone? 

  • The CYBER.ORG Range is a browser-based resource and while it can be accessed on hand-held devices, it is not optimal as users will be working with live Linux and Windows virtual machines.

How do you copy and paste inside of the virtual machines (VMs) on the CYBER.ORG Range?

  • Use CTRL+ALT+Shift to open a side menu then paste your text in the blank area. Once the text is pasted there, you can click back into the VM and right-click in the area you want it pasted, then select Paste.

When working in the CYBER.ORG Range, how do I make the text on my VM larger for my students to read as I present?

  • Use CTRL+ALT+Shift to open the side menu. Scroll to the bottom and use the +/- to increase or decrease the zoom of the entire VM window. Alternatively, you can increase the size of the text in a terminal for Linux with CTRL+Shift+ +. You can also open the Edit menu on the terminal to change the font size.

Why does the terminal on Firefox (web browser) take so long to open?

  • In order to keep the CYBER.ORG Range affordable to operate and free to use, our VMs are lower-power machines. The initial launch of the terminal and Firefox browser takes a few moments, but once they are running, you and your students should be able to maneuver around the VM with little to no lag. We recommend launching all of your students' terminals at one time a few minutes before class starts.

Why did my VM turn off after 30 minutes?

  • As a cost saving measure for our free CYBER.ORG Range, we have added a shut down timer to all VMs if they sit idle for more than 30 minutes after being launched. To prevent this from happening, simply need to click and navigate around in the VM within 30 minutes of launch and the machines will stay on for the total 2+ hours. Please email apps@cyber.org if you have any issues with the VMs on our Range.

I applied for the CYBER.ORG Range (or am attempting to change my password) but have not received any communication from CYBER.ORG and it has been more than 1-2 business days. What should I do?

  • It has been brought to our attention that some emails from our CYBER.ORG Range Team are being flagged. Try contacting your school/district IT department and ask to have apps@cyber.org and https://apps.cyber.org added to the system's allowlist. If you continue to have issues, please email info@cyber.org or call 318-841-9618.

 

 

CANVAS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

How do I get my students set up/enrolled on Canvas to access the courses?

  • We use our Canvas LMS as a file repository for teachers to download all the files from our content. Once you download the content, you’re welcome to distribute to your students in whatever way works best for your school (physical, email, or even uploading the documents to your school’s LMS). We don’t enroll students into our instance of Canvas as we have the answer keys available for download along with the course content. If you are interested in downloading the whole course content instead of downloading each file one by one, you can click on the Files section for each course you’re interested in and select the folder in that area. Once you’ve selected the folder, a download button will appear at the top of the page. This will download a zipped folder of all the files in that folder for that course. 

What order should I teach the courses in?

  • The majority of our content is written to be more modular in structure, enabling instructors to adapt the content to their students' needs. We offer suggested orders on some of our content to signify a logical step from one topic to the next, however you are welcome to adapt, reorder, or leave out any amount of content that helps bring the information to your students in the way that works best for them. CYBER.ORG's content is a free resource to help enhance cybersecurity education across the nation; we encourage you to use as much as you need, in whatever order you need.

My Canvas dashboard is empty. Why can’t I see content?

  • As our community grows, we continue to strive towards greater data accuracy and integrity, and we need our users’ help in maintaining it. If your Canvas dashboard is empty, you should see an “Action Required” alert. Follow the instructions to fill out the background information form. Once completed, it will take approximately 30 minutes for your account to be updated, and your dashboard will be restored. Please contact info@cyber.org if your dashboard is not restored. 
  • IMPORTANT: When filling out the background information form, please make sure you enter the original email address that you used to sign up for Canvas. Do this even if you have another email address that you’d like to start using or if your email address has changed. This form cannot be used to update your contact information. If you use an email address other than the one you used to log in, your dashboard will not update.

I've filled out the background information form but I’m still unable to see content.

  • The automated process to restore the content to your account can sometimes take a few minutes. If your dashboard does not show all of the CYBER.ORG content after 30 minutes, please contact info@cyber.org.

I don't see professional development (PD) coming up on a specific course or topic that I am needing on the CYBER.ORG events page. Where can I find PD on CYBER.ORG content?

  • On your Canvas dashboard, locate Self-Paced Professional Development. Here you will find recordings of our PD on various courses, lessons, and other curricula overviews. After watching, you can fill out the Certificate of Attendance form to receive credit for that particular PD.