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Introducing Frogbotics

An Unplugged Robotics Activity

What is Frogbotics?

Frogbotics is an unplugged robotics activity for teaching young students about cybersecurity. The activity was conceived and designed by Keith Rand, a participating school teacher in the RET Site: Cyber Security Initiative for Nevada Teachers (CSINT) at University of Nevada, Reno, in the summer of 2017.

Why robotics?

Research shows that robots and robotics activities can have a positive effect on collaboration and problem-solving skills, science learning, and language development. Young students are motivated to interact with and learn to program robots. Consider, additionally, that programming robots is intrinsically related to computer science and comprises a cyber-physical system ideal for demonstrating cybersecurity concepts.

Why unplugged?

Robots can be expensive and their availability in schools limited. Even when computers are available, their use is often limited to testing and core subject activities. However, activities that don't use technology can still be used to teach cybersecurity. In fact, some concepts are more evident to students when the technology is removed. Finally, young children are often so fascinated by robots that the mere mention of them in connection with an activity or opportunity to role-play one can be as motivating as the actual operation or interaction with one.

Why Frogbotics?

Unplugged robotics activities, from simple to complex, have been used before to teach programming concepts to students at every level. Frogbotics, however, is specifically designed to teach students about cybersecurity. Because computer education and the inclusion of cybersecurity topics is more prevalent at the high school level, Frogbotics is focused on K-8. One of the considerations in its design is how to get the time in the classroom to talk about cybersecurity. Three considerations have been given to this problem:

• The Frogbotics programming language is designed to allow teachers to integrate math and language arts skills with the game. The programming language has a low entry level and high ceiling to enable learners at all levels to benefit. This makes Frogbotics a tool students can use to apply and practice math and language arts skills. Frogbotics, then, is relevant to math and language arts practice periods - time during which cybersecurity education can also be provided.


• The continuum of cybersecurity concepts taught with Frogbotics is derived from the recently developed Computer Science Framework. This document had wide support and input from relevant education and industry groups during its development and is therefore hoped to be generally accepted as a national standard for developing local computer science curricula. Frogbotics is a teaching tool for cybersecurity that will already be correlated to those curricula.


• Frogbotics is not only designed to be used without robots, but without electricity - if need be. For example, the use of a projected version with an interactive whiteboard is a convenience rather than a necessity. Ultimately, Frogbotics will be available through a phone app, but will always be just as useful in a wall poster version. This variety of media makes Frogbotics a practical tool in more classrooms and ultimately brings cybersecurity education to more students.

Click for Development Notes

©2019 by Keith Rand