WalkthroughCyber: teaching cyber-awareness in Montessori middle schools

Adolescents today are growing up in a hyper-connected digital environment, so it is essential to educate them on responsible technology use. While the importance of cyber-awareness education is widely recognized, there is a lack of effective teaching methodologies. This paper presents a pilot study aimed at designing a cyber-awareness teaching approach tailored to Montessori middle schools. The proposed methodology was implemented in a course delivered to two Italian classes. The course lasts approximately ten hours and is divided into six didactic units covering key cybersecurity topics. It combines participatory lectures that encourage active discussion with practical, game-based activities designed to enhance engagement and reinforce learning.