Viewing Cybersecurity Education Evolution from cyber.org’s EdCon2025 in Chicago

Hello Parallax Community, 

Here’s the [shortest I could write] summary of our work at EdCon2025 this summer!

Parallax has proudly partnered with CYBER.ORG for over fifteen years, contributing to the development of national cybersecurity education standards. In June, we attended and presented at EdCon 2025 in Chicago—an exciting event that brings together hands-on technology, physical computing, and real-world coding experiences through continuous educator-led sessions. I’ve been to over 200 educational conferences in my career, and this one has tons of energy (and is a close second to California’s CUE conference in Palm Springs only because they’re just one step short of having rock concerts at their event). 

My quick takeaways from EdCon2025 are:

• micro:bit is fully established as the single most important physical computing tool in cybersecurity education, from elementary through high school. Between the Python interpreter, wireless communication, sensors and human-friendly features, micro:bit is simply the ideal teaching tool. Cybersecurity feels a bit boring on it’s own, but it is made interesting with the micro:bit; the proof is student interest in the cyber:bot Robot Kit.  No other hardware processors are used to this extent.   
• Emphasis on no-cost industry‑backed tools and curriculum from Palo Alto Networks, Parallax, Intel and Cyber.org reduce barriers to implementing K–12 cybersecurity education. The amount of free resources, coupled with the spark/breakout/deep dive workshops at EdCon2025 let educators drive the professional development at their own pace and sequence. 
• AI and machine learning are coming next. It’s clear that academic interest in AI is accelerating very quickly. The use of AI varies tremendously in education, from no support to sandboxed ChatGPT models. Educators are using it to make their programs more efficient. Parallax is planning to support the AI trend through machine learning curricluum with the micro:bit. 
• IoT proliferation and American investment in semiconductor manufacturing means that students who become familiar with programming microcontrollers (and the security within them) will create the products that can be manufactured in the USA. Both the current and previous administrations are supporting semiconductor manufacturing efforts (through the Chips Act). Products now connect themselves to the internet, and designers need to create them with the right security systems to protect against hackers. 

I also handed out over 25 free micro:bit modules and 30 cyber:bot kits at this event. Our goal is to bring educators on board, quickly, with a program their students want to use (the kind that makes every educator “Be the classroom they remember!”). 

We will support every educator to use the micro:bit, and will be country’s top reseller of these modules. We will provide every classroom, district or state with the hardware they need, drop-shipped to as many locations as requested. We are supporting the right educational tools at this time, and are fully invested in the success of the micro:bit. More on our commitment to follow within the week as we announce an event at Parallax in November 2025.  

We’d love to hear what others thought of EdCon2025 and your vision on where it’s headed, too. 

Ken Gracey 
Parallax Inc.