ALEX Learning Activity

Artificial Intelligence: What Is It and Where Is It?

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Erin Meacham
System:Homewood City
School:Homewood Middle School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 1926
Title:
Artificial Intelligence: What Is It and Where Is It?
Digital Tool/Resource:
Note.ly
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this activity, students will explore Artificial Intelligence, develop their own definitions of what AI is, and share examples with their classmates via Note.ly. 

This activity was created as a result of the DLCS COS Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Digital Literacy and Computer Science
DLIT (2018)
Grade: 6
29) Define artificial intelligence and identify examples of artificial intelligence in the community.

Examples: Image recognition, voice assistants.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
2. Make inferences and draw logical conclusions from the content and structures of informational texts, including comparison and contrast, problem and solution, claims and evidence, cause and effect, description, and sequencing.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
13. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject and purpose for a particular audience or occasion.

Examples: social media posts, blog posts, podcast episodes, infographics
Learning Objectives:

Students will define artificial intelligence.

Students will identify examples of artificial intelligence.

Students will read informational texts and construct clear responses to the reading.

Students will publish responses to other classmates using technology.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

As an introduction, have students fold a note card in half. Then, instruct them to write their own definition of the term "Artificial Intelligence." Students can share their constructed definitions before moving on.

After students have constructed and shared their definitions, the teacher will direct them to the informational article on https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/ai-can-guide-us-or-just-entertain. 

When the students have completed the reading, they will refer back to their note cards, writing a new definition for AI based on their new knowledge. Students can share their new definitions or even share what they changed.

Once the students have their definition of AI, they will be instructed to submit via Note.ly examples of AI that they use or have seen used. By the end of this activity, the students will have a whole web page full of examples, hopefully understanding its prevalence in today's society.
Assessment Strategies:

-Note cards with pre-reading definition and post-reading definition

-Students responses on Note.ly
Advanced Preparation:

Teachers should read the article beforehand and be familiar with the content.

Teachers will need to create an account on Note.ly in order to have a common board for all students to join. Students do not need an account to participate.

Ideally, all students need a device. However, if this is not an option, students could share a device in groups of 2-4. 
Variation Tips (optional):

-Students could work individually or with a partner depending on the availability of devices, computers, or Chromebooks.

-Students could extend this activity to have a discussion about the importance of Artificial Intelligence.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: artificial intelligence, computer science, digital literacy