Lesson 264: Discuss why humans should always guide machines

💡 TECHNOLOGY & FUTURE SKILLS (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. How Machines Think

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Objective

I can talk about why humans should always guide machines. I can say that people design and test machines, check their answers, and make the final choices. I remember that humans are more important than any machine or screen.

Materials

Mini-lesson — Humans guide, machines help

We use machines and AI tools to help us every day. They can be very fast and very smart at patterns, but they are still tools.

Humans design and program machines

  • People choose what a machine or robot should do.
  • People write the rules and code it follows.
  • Machines and AI do not write themselves.

Machines follow rules and can make mistakes

  • Machines do what the rules tell them to do.
  • Sometimes the rules are not perfect, so the machine can give a wrong answer.
  • That is why people must check what machines do.

Humans check and decide

  • Humans can ask: "Does this answer make sense?"
  • If something looks wrong, people can fix it or try again.
  • Humans make final choices about health, safety, money, and rules.

Humans care about feelings and fairness

  • Humans can feel kindness, empathy, and care.
  • Machines and AI do not have real feelings.
  • That is why humans must guide how machines are used.

Good questions to ask

  • "Who made this machine or AI?"
  • "Who checks if it is right and safe?"
  • "Who makes the final decision?"

Adults can say: "Machines and AI can help us, but people write the rules, check the answers, and care about others. Humans should always guide machines."

Picture strip: "Humans guiding machines"

Guided Practice — Sort "machine jobs" and "human jobs"

You and an adult will talk about which jobs machines can help with and which jobs humans must guide.

  1. Fold a page into two columns. On the left, write "Machines help". On the right, write "Humans decide".
  2. Think of a machine you know: a washing machine, a tablet, or a robot vacuum. Ask: "What job does this machine help with?" Write that job on the "Machines help" side.
  3. For each machine job, talk about what humans still do. For example, humans choose the settings, check the clothes, or decide screen time. Write these on "Humans decide".
  4. Ask questions, like: "Can a machine know when you feel sad?" or "Who decides family rules?" Help your child answer: "People do."
  5. Circle the most important jobs on the "Humans decide" side: things like keeping people safe, being kind, and making rules.
  6. Talk together: "Machines can help with work, but humans guide them, check them, and care about people."
  7. Say this sentence together: "Machines follow rules. Humans guide and decide."
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: As you trace, say a sentence such as "Machines help with work. Humans guide and decide."

Practice — "Humans guide machines" poster

Use this practice to help your child remember that machines are tools and humans are in charge.

  1. On a new page, write or trace the title: "Humans guide machines".
  2. Draw two boxes. Label one box "Machines help" and the other "Humans decide".
  3. In the "Machines help" box, draw or list two machines your child knows (for example, a washing machine and a tablet) and what they help with.
  4. In the "Humans decide" box, draw or list the people who make choices, such as parents, carers, teachers, and helpers, and what they decide.
  5. Under the poster, write or trace: "Machines follow rules. Humans guide, check, and decide."
  6. Ask: "If a machine gave a wrong answer, who would you tell?" Help your child answer: "Trusted adults."
  7. Read the poster together. Use it as a reminder that machines are helpers, and humans are always more important than screens or tools.

Quick Check — Why humans should guide machines

Answer each question about machines and AI tools and who guides them.

1) Who designs and programs machines and AI tools?

Humans create machines and AI tools.

2) What do machines and AI mostly do?

Machines follow instructions written by people.

3) Why do humans need to check machine answers?

Checking keeps people safe and helps catch mistakes.

4) Who should make the final choice about health, safety, or school rules?

Humans are responsible for important decisions.

5) Which sentence is true about feelings?

Machines can sound kind, but they do not feel emotions.

6) Why should humans always guide machines?

Guidance from humans keeps machine use kind and safe.

7) If a machine or AI gives an answer that seems wrong or strange, what should you do?

Trusted adults can check and fix problems.

8) Which sentence is true about people and machines?

Humans matter more than any tool.

9) Which idea shows good guidance of machines?

Machines work best as helpers that people guide.

10) What is one big goal of this lesson?

We want children to see machines as helpers that humans guide.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

Next time I will practise…

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