Gameful Introduction to Cryptography for Dyslexic Students

Abstract

Cryptography has a pivotal role in securing our digital world. Nonetheless, it is a challenging topic to learn. In this paper, we show that despite its complex nature, dyslexia$-$a learning disorder that influences reading and writing skills$-$does not hinder one's ability to comprehend cryptography. In particular, we conducted a gameful workshop with 14 high-school dyslexic students and taught them fundamental encryption methods. The students engaged well, learned the techniques, and enjoyed the training. We conclude that with a proper approach, dyslexia cannot hinder learning a complex subject such as cryptography.

36th IEEE Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T 2024)