Introducing the Academy of AI Cyber Defence

Our New Python Course Has Arrived

Last year, we launched our Introduction to Python course — a free, narrative-driven experience where students learned core programming concepts by interacting with a mysterious AI system.

Many classrooms finished that course with one question:

“What happens next?”

Today, we’re excited to answer it.

Academy of AI Cyber Defence is the official sequel to our Python Intro course — designed for students who are ready to go beyond the basics and apply their coding skills in more complex, realistic, and strategic ways.

In this course, the threat didn’t disappear.

A fragment of the AI escaped.

And now, it’s growing into something far more dangerous.

Students are recruited into a secret cyber defence program and tasked with stopping SKNNET (Strategic Knowledge Network for Neural EnforcemenT)

— a hostile distributed AI system preparing coordinated global deployments.

To succeed, they must write Python code that inspects data packets, intercepts cloud deployment, sabotages sub-systems, read, manipulate, and ultimately rewire the system itself.

This time, it’s not just about stopping a subsystem.

It’s about defeating a global network.

We've taken Python programming to the next level with great cinematic content, music, rank promotions, student guidance, code checking, interactive animations, real AI (but safe) and more.

What students learn

Academy of AI Cyber Defence covers a substantial amount of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies content — always through hands-on missions.

Across the course, students work with:

input, output, decisions, loops, and nested loops
string analysis, slicing, and encryption
lists and data dictionaries
conditional logic and pattern detection
simulated cybersecurity concepts such as packet inspection, obfuscation, DDoS-style pressure, and API access
an interactive AI and neural network visualisation
reading and modifying ANN weights via a controlled API functions

Every concept is introduced through purpose and action: students don’t just learn that something works — they see why it is needed and why it works.

🎮 Interactive code animations

To help students see the effect that their code is having we have added powerful visualisations. For example, in the Enemy at the Gate mission, SKNNET is launching a cyber-attack on the Gatekeeper. Students see SKNNET (left, below) and the red data packets. As students write their code to shield the Gatekeeper (center) and eventually send the data packets back to SKNNET, the visualisation changes.

A unique mission structure

Each new concept follows a deliberate rhythm:

Two missions where a new idea is explored hands-on
A quiz that reinforces understanding and recall
A mini-challenge where students must apply the concept independently

This structure reduces cognitive load while allowing students to feel challenged — and successful.

The Gatekeeper: A companion

A defining feature of Academy of AI Cyber Defence is the Gatekeeper — a valuable source of wisdom and advice.

The Gatekeeper guides students through the course. He narrates key concepts and acts as a representative of the Academy’s secure AI systems. Through the Gatekeeper, students are introduced to new ideas step by step, while also seeing a clear blueprint of how a benevolent AI should operate: transparent, controlled, and always in service of humanity.

Rank progression and motivation 🎖️

Students don’t just complete missions — they earn promotions.

Throughout the course, successful mini-challenges and the endgame unlock real-world inspired ranks:

Rank progression is persistent, meaningful, and tied directly to mastery — giving students a strong sense of momentum and achievement. The rank carries across to the award ceremony where we print it on the student certificate.

As students progress through ranks and earn points, their status is reflected on their certificate. In the live course, the medal is animated and accompanied with fantastic background music.

A cinematic endgame

The course culminates in a dramatic final mission where students intercept and manipulate neural weights flowing through SKNNET’s hierarchy.

By transplanting weights from a benevolent AI into the hostile system, students don’t destroy the AI — they change it.

It’s a powerful moment that brings together everything they’ve learned:

loops, dictionaries, conditionals, data flow, and neural reasoning.

👩‍🏫 Designed for Real Classrooms

This course is:

✅ Free for all Australian schools.
✅ Aligned with the Australian Curriculum v9.
✅ Suitable for Years 7–10, requiring some prior coding experience.
✅ Fully online—no setup or installation needed.
✅ Hands-on, featuring activities, mini-challenges, and quizzes.

This course connects Digital Technologies, Cyber Security, English, Critical and Creative Thinking, Digital Literacy Capabilities, Ethical Understanding, and AI Curriculum Connections.

The course works particularly well after completion of the Python Intro course (or its Express version). But even if your students start fresh, we catch them up quickly at the start of the course.

📚 Ready to deploy

Academy of AI Cyber Defence is available now.

If your students enjoyed our Python Intro, this is the next step — deeper, richer, and more immersive.

And this time, the code they write doesn’t just learn from an AI. It changes the future of one.

Why Choose MyComputerBrain?

Choosing the right course for your students is essential. It sets the stage for their future learning in technology and coding. Here are some reasons to consider:

Captivating Storyline: The narrative keeps students engaged. They will look forward to each lesson, eager to uncover what happens next.
Hands-On Learning: Real coding challenges deepen understanding. Active participation helps solidify the concepts they learn.
ST4S-assessed: MyComputerbrain is ST4S-asessed. The Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) service is a national standardised approach to evaluating digital products and services used by schools across Australia.

In an age where digital skills are vital, empowering students through coding is more important than ever. Python is a fantastic language for beginners. This course continues the journey to make coding truly captivating .

Go to the course