International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science (IJMECS)
IJMECS Vol. 18, No. 2, 8 Apr. 2026
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Cyber Security Competency and Socialization among Prospective Teachers: Effect of a Cyber Safety and Security Literacy Program
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Author(s)
Index Terms
Cyber Safety Literacy, Cyber security Competency, Cyber Socialization, Teacher Education, Digital Citizenship
Abstract
In the context of increasing cyber threats, digital misinformation, and online ethical dilemmas, the role of teachers in promoting safe and responsible digital behavior has become more critical than ever. This study explores the effectiveness of the Cyber Safety and Security Literacy Program (CSLP) in enhancing cyber security competency and cyber socialization among prospective teachers. The CSLP was designed as a structured educational intervention aimed at equipping future educators with the knowledge, skills, and ethical orientation necessary to navigate cyberspace confidently and responsibly. A pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was adopted, involving 50 purposively selected B.Ed. students from various teacher education institutions. The two-month intervention was delivered through Google Classroom and Google Meet, ensuring flexibility and interactive participation. The CSLP comprised 12 carefully curated modules covering critical themes such as cyber threats, digital identity protection, cyber bullying prevention, cyber ethics, safe communication, and responsible social media use. To evaluate the program’s impact, data were collected using two standardized tools—the Cyber Security Competency Scale (CSC) and the Cyber Socialization Scale (CSS) both were developed through systematic procedures and supported by strong theoretical grounding and expert validation, providing evidence of their validity. Statistical analysis using paired-sample t-tests revealed significant improvements in participants' cyber security competency (t(49) = 30.55, p < .01, d = 4.32) and cyber socialization (t(49) = 17.75, p < .01, d = 2.51), indicating a large effect size in both domains. The findings affirm that the CSLP is an effective intervention for fostering digital responsibility, ethical awareness, and safe online behavior among future educators. The study emphasizes the urgent need to integrate comprehensive cyber security literacy programs within teacher education curricula, positioning teachers not only as informed digital citizens but also as proactive facilitators of cyber safety and ethical conduct in the learning environment.
Cite This Paper
Santhosh Thangan, Thiyagu Kaliappan, "Cyber Security Competency and Socialization among Prospective Teachers: Effect of a Cyber Safety and Security Literacy Program", International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science(IJMECS), Vol.18, No.2, pp. 163-172, 2026. DOI:10.5815/ijmecs.2026.02.10
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