Is Technology Always Good? Talking About Ethics and New Technology
Learning Goals:
- Learn new words about technology and ethics.
- Talk about good and bad things about new technologies.
- Read about the good and bad sides of technology.
- Listen to a conversation about AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ethics.
- Write about how a new technology might change our lives.
Key Words:
- Technology: New tools, machines, and systems that help us do things.
- Ethics: Ideas about what is right and wrong.
- Artificial intelligence (AI): Smart computer programs that can learn and make decisions.
- Genetic engineering: Changing the genes of living things.
- Privacy: Keeping your personal information safe.
- Automation: Using machines instead of people to do work.
Let’s Talk About It!
- What new technologies are you excited about? (Examples: Self-driving cars, robots, new medical treatments)
- What are some ways technology can be bad? (Examples: people losing jobs to robots, our personal information being used without our permission)
- Is it okay for scientists to change the genes of plants and animals? What about humans? Why or why not?
Let’s Read!
New technologies can be amazing. They can help us cure diseases, explore space, and make our lives easier. But we also need to be careful. Some technologies can be dangerous if we use them in the wrong way. We need to think about how they affect people and our planet.
Listen and Learn!
(Teacher plays a short conversation about the ethics of AI. Focus on questions like: Can AI be dangerous? Should we make robots that look and act like humans? Who is responsible when AI makes mistakes?)
Talk with a Partner!
One of you is a scientist who has invented a new technology. The other is a reporter who is interviewing the scientist about the invention and its possible effects on society.
Example:
- Reporter: “What are the benefits of your invention?”
- Scientist: “It will help people live longer and healthier lives.”
- Reporter: “But are there any risks? Could it be used for bad things?”
Homework:
Choose a new technology you’re interested in. Write a short paragraph about how you think it will change our lives. Will it be mostly positive or negative? Why?
Extra Fun:
If you can, watch a movie or TV show about robots or AI. Do you think the story is realistic? Why or why not?
