I start by asking what games they play, then together we look at ways to manipulate the game using code snippets, manipulating delay lag on the network to game the networking code using tc on their router if it is running Linux under the hood. Most importantly I make sure they understand the concepts they are manipulating so they can extend the capabilities to other games. It has to be something fun to keep their interest otherwise they will just move on to other things. I also show them some simple techniques to defend their router and PC against simple flood attacks most commonly needed in GTA4 and indie games such as blocking off inbound ports that the game opens on the router but are not really needed and dropping packets based on size, rate and combination of specific ports. They have to learn how to profile traffic and spot anomalies in wireshark correlated with the time their game or PC crashes. Nothing too advanced, just a starting point. If it's too advanced they will be overwhelmed and lose interest.
For clarification when I say kids I mean teens. The younger kids will learn from the older kids in Discord. The teens will taunt each other to get them to attack their machine. That too becomes a learning exercise that they will perceive as a game. Red team vs Blue, Yellow and Orange teams [1] Oh and yes I of course tell them which techniques break which laws and what will get them hired. There is some overlap.
Interesting. These are great projects to get them to understand how Linux works, and networking works. I might direct some of the more talented ones to hackernoon. Really good suggestion. Thank you!
But I think the question the parents (and to some extend) the kids asking themselves is if this matters. If it is just a game or hobby, then thats nice to kill time. But how does this work impact the "real work"? They are comparing "working in IT" with working as a vet or becoming a lawyer. They (at least the parents) have concepts what these people do.
But there is a demographic for whom all software is totally abstracted to the point where they don't see it and I am hoping for a way to open their eyes so they see. Wow it really is everywhere. Any product needs it! This is really useful!
> If it is just a game or hobby, then thats nice to kill time. But how does this work impact the "real work"?
Play is how we learn, especially with children. Games and hobbies aren't nice ways to kill time, they're methods of learning new things and practicing skills.
I totally agree. And a lot of them really love coding. Thats how I meet them. Its a game for them, and as they are kids, I think it should stay a game for them.
Its just that they dont understand (and I am struggling to tell them) what these skills will be useful for in their adult life. For parents it is really important. They want their kids to have fun. But in the same time they are worried if their kids are going to succeed in life.
They are comparing "working in IT" with working as a vet or becoming a lawyer.
In my opinion it has more to do with teaching critical thinking skills vs. memorization. That is why I try to make sure people learn the concepts rather than just remembering manual pages. Critical thinking has benefits in many aspects of many career fields. The goal in my example is to start with something fun yet a little challenging that requires experimentation with things one can not find in documentation to bend the system, bend the rules and hopefully bend their way of thinking outside of the box.
For clarification when I say kids I mean teens. The younger kids will learn from the older kids in Discord. The teens will taunt each other to get them to attack their machine. That too becomes a learning exercise that they will perceive as a game. Red team vs Blue, Yellow and Orange teams [1] Oh and yes I of course tell them which techniques break which laws and what will get them hired. There is some overlap.
[1] - https://hackernoon.com/introducing-the-infosec-colour-wheel-...