ISEDJ

Information Systems Education Journal

Volume 13

V13 N4 Pages 24-32

July 2015


Steganography and Cryptography Inspired Enhancement of Introductory Programming Courses


Yana Kortsarts
Widener University
Chester, PA 19013, USA

Yulia Kempner
Holon Institute of Technology
Holon, 5810201, Israel


Abstract: Steganography is the art and science of concealing communication. The goal of steganography is to hide the very existence of information exchange by embedding messages into unsuspicious digital media covers. Cryptography, or secret writing, is the study of the methods of encryption, decryption and their use in communications protocols. Steganography manipulates data to ensure the security of information, but the concept of steganography differs from cryptography. Cryptography obscures the meaning of a message, but it does not conceal the fact that there is a message. The goal of cryptography is to make data unreadable by a third party, whereas the goal of steganography is to hide the data from a third party. We present a way to integrate steganography and cryptology examples into introductory programming courses. This enrichment promotes active involvement in the course and provides opportunity to engage students in experimental problem solving and collaborative learning to enhance critical thinking.

Keywords: active learning , cryptology, engagement, introductory programming, problem solving, Steganography

Download this article: ISEDJ - V13 N4 Page 24.pdf


Recommended Citation: Kortsarts, Y., Kempner, Y. (2015). Steganography and Cryptography Inspired Enhancement of Introductory Programming Courses . Information Systems Education Journal, 13(4) pp 24-32. http://isedj.org/2015-13/ ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2014)