Introduction to Encryption and Cryptography

Discover the history of encryption and learn how it’s used in the modern world

On this course, you will learn about what encryption is and understand its use in the past by using the Caesar and Vigenère ciphers.

You will also look at the present and future of encryption and investigate both symmetric and asymmetric encryption schemes.

The course includes several practical encryption activities which you can complete and use in your own classroom.

This course is designed for teachers delivering computer science lessons in the classroom, at GCSE level or equivalent.

There are several optional steps involving using Python to implement some forms of encryption. To complete these you will need a Python IDE, either on your computer, or an online one like Trinket

• Encryption and substitution ciphers
• Welcome to the course
• The history of encryption
• Substitution ciphers
• The importance of complexity
• End of Week 1
• Modern encryption
• Welcome to Week 2
• Asymmetric encryption
• Applications of Encryption
• Teaching encryption