Push the limits, imagine more

Get a printable PDF of the lesson plan here.

Grade Level: 6th–12th Grade 
Time: 50 minutes

Overview

This lesson will walk students through how to evaluate A.I. tools by examining their purpose, reliability, privacy policies and credibility. They will also brainstorm their own ideas for A.I. tools. 

Learning Objectives 

• Students will be able to:
  • Analyze A.I. tools using simple evaluation criteria
    • Who/what company made it?
    • What is the privacy policy and how much control do you have on an account?
    • How reliable is it? Does it comply with my school’s standards/policy for use?

• Recognize generative A.I. generated misinformation.
• Have the ability to discuss why fact-checking matters.
• Brainstorm and design their own A.I. tool idea, taking into account ethics, data use, and purpose.

Before You Watch

As a class, discuss the following:

• Do you recall a time when you have seen a generative A.I. tool described as “game-changing” or “revolutionary”? What did you think of the claim?
• How can you learn if an A.I. tool reliable? How do you learn if it is useful?

While You Watch

Pause at 04:03 and do the activity on screen:

• Brainstorm your own A.I. tool idea. 
  • Think about:
    • What problem does it solve?
    • Who would use it?
    • What data would it need?
    • How would you make sure it’s ethical?

Exit Ticket/After You Watch

• Ask students to form small groups and share their ideas for an A.I. tool.
• Each group votes on the best idea and prepares a short (30-60 second) pitch to present the best idea to the class.
• The pitch must include:
  • Tool name
  • What it solves
  • Who the target audience is
  • How it works
  • Ethical precautions

• After all pitches are shared, the class votes on their favorite
  • While voting the class should consider ethical protections and innovation.

Standards Alignment

• Reading Informational Text:
  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.4;
  RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.4;
  RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.4;
  RI.9-10.1, RI.9-10.2, RI.9-10.4;
  RI.11-12.1, RI.11-12.2, RI.11-12.4
• Writing:
  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1b, W.6.2d, W.6.7;
  W.7.1a-e, W.7.2a-b, W.7.7;
  W.8.1a-c, W.8.2a-c, W.8.7;
  W.9-10.1a-d, W.9-10.2a-d, W.9-10.7;
  W.11-12.1a-c, W.11-12.2a-d
• Speaking and Listening:
  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1a-d, SL.6.4;
  SL.7.1a-d, SL.7.4;
  SL.8.1b-d, SL.8.4;
  SL.9-10.1a-d, SL.9-10.4;
  SL.11-12.1b-d, SL.11-12.4
  SL.6.5, SL.7.5, SL.8.5, SL.9-10.5, SL.11-12.5
• Language:
  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4, L.6.6;
  L.7.4, L.7.6;
  L.8.4, L.8.6;
  L.9-10.4, L.9-10.6;
  L.11-12.4, L.11-12.6
• ISTE Standards for Students
  ISTE 1.2 Digital Citizen
  ISTE 1.3 Knowledge Constructor
• Media Literacy Standards:
  Analyze the role of A.I. in shaping online content.
  Evaluate sources for credibility, transparency, and accuracy.
• NGSS MS-ETS1-2; HS-ETS1-3 (Evaluating and Designing Solutions)

These videos and lessons were developed by the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise and the Teen Fact-Checking Network in partnership with PBS News Student Reporting Labs. This partnership has been made possible through our collaboration with the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.