Tech: Friend or Foe? Script

Warm-Up & Introduction (2 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To kick us off today, I want you to think about this: What's one piece of technology you use almost every single day, and how does it help you? Maybe it's a phone, a game console, a computer for school? Think for a moment, and be ready to share!"

(Allow a few students to share their examples and how the technology helps them. Acknowledge their responses.)

Teacher: "Great examples! It's clear technology plays a big role in our lives. Today, we're going to dive deeper into this. We'll explore how technology can be super helpful, like a good friend, but also how it can have some tricky parts, like a foe. We'll specifically look at Artificial Intelligence, cell phones, and the Chromebooks many of you use in school."

Slide Deck Presentation & Discussion (8 minutes)

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 1)

Teacher: "Let's start with our first topic: Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short."

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 2: What is AI?)

Teacher: "So, what exactly is AI? Think of it like teaching a computer to think and learn, kind of how humans do. It helps computers perform tasks that normally require human intelligence."

"Can anyone think of an example of AI you might have encountered? Maybe a smart assistant like Siri or Alexa, or how Netflix knows what shows you might like?"

(Allow a few student responses. Guide them to examples they might recognize.)

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 3: AI: The Benefits (Friend))

Teacher: "AI can be a fantastic friend! It helps us learn by suggesting helpful videos or personalized study guides. It makes tasks easier, like writing an email for you or translating a language. And it really assists in our daily lives, from giving you directions on a map to controlling smart devices at home. Plus, it powers a lot of cool games and creative tools!"

Teacher: "What's a way AI has helped you or made something easier for you or someone you know?"

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 4: AI: The Pitfalls (Foe))

Teacher: "But, like any friend, AI can have its tricky sides. Sometimes, if AI learns from unfair information, it can make biased decisions. We also need to think about privacy – AI often needs a lot of your information, so who sees it? And remember, AI isn't always correct; sometimes it can even make things up! It can also be a big distraction or even used for things that aren't good."

Teacher: "What's one thing we need to be careful about when using AI?"

(Transition to Cell Phones - Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 5: Cell Phones: Our Pocket Computers)

Teacher: "Alright, let's talk about something many of us are very familiar with: cell phones! Most of us have one, or someone in our family does. They're like super powerful computers that fit right in our pockets."

"Besides calling or texting, what's one amazing thing your cell phone lets you do?"

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 6: Cell Phones: The Benefits (Friend))

Teacher: "Cell phones are definitely our friends for instant communication – staying connected with family and friends, especially in emergencies. They give us instant access to information for homework or just satisfying our curiosity. They can be a huge safety tool, and of course, they offer tons of entertainment and learning apps!"

Teacher: "How has a cell phone helped you feel safer or more connected?"

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 7: Cell Phones: The Pitfalls (Foe))

Teacher: "Now for the 'foe' side of cell phones. They can be a HUGE distraction, right? Making it hard to focus in class or on homework. There's also cyberbullying, where unkind messages or online harassment can happen. We also have to be mindful of privacy and screen time – too much can affect our sleep and mood, and sharing too much personal information can be risky. And sometimes, always checking our phones can become a hard-to-break habit."

Teacher: "What's a strategy you use to avoid getting too distracted by your phone, or to limit your screen time?"

(Transition to Chromebooks - Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 8: Chromebooks: School's Sidekick)

Teacher: "Finally, let's talk about Chromebooks, which many of you use right here in school. They're designed to be fast, simple, and secure."

"How is a Chromebook different from a regular laptop or even a tablet you might use at home?"

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 9: Chromebooks: The Benefits (Friend))

Teacher: "Chromebooks are fantastic for school! They're easy to use, start up quickly, and update automatically. They're brilliant for collaborative learning, letting you work on projects and share documents with classmates in real-time. Because they're cloud-based, your work is saved online, so you can access it anywhere. And they're often more affordable and durable, which is great for school use."

Teacher: "What's your favorite thing about using a Chromebook for schoolwork?"

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 10: Chromebooks: The Pitfalls (Foe))

Teacher: "On the 'foe' side, Chromebooks do have some limitations. Many apps and features need an internet connection to work. They're also generally less powerful, so they're not really for heavy gaming or complex video editing. They rely a lot on Google services, which is fine if you use them, but less flexible if you prefer others. And even though they're for school, they can still be a source of distraction if you're not careful."

Teacher: "When might a Chromebook not be the best tool for a task?"

Making Smart Choices & Setting Up Activity (5 minutes)

(Move to Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? - Slide 11: Making Smart Choices)

Teacher: "So, as we've seen, technology offers amazing tools, but it's really important for us to be mindful and responsible users. Remember:

• AI: It's a powerful helper, but always check its facts and guard your privacy.
• Cell Phones: Great for connecting, but watch out for distractions and cyberbullying.
• Chromebooks: Awesome for school, but remember their limits.

"Now, you're going to put your critical thinking caps on! I'm going to divide you into small groups."

(Divide students into groups of 3-4.)

Teacher: "Each group will get a Worksheet: Tech T-Chart Challenge. Your task is to work together to fill out a T-chart for one of the technologies we discussed – AI, cell phones, or Chromebooks. List as many benefits and pitfalls as you can think of. Try to think beyond what we just covered! I'll assign each group a technology now. When you're done, we'll quickly share out."

(Distribute worksheets and assign one technology per group. Circulate to assist.)

Share Out & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright everyone, let's bring it back together. Can each group quickly share 1-2 key benefits and pitfalls you identified for your assigned technology?"

(Allow each group to share briefly.)

Teacher: "Fantastic work, everyone! You've all shown great critical thinking today.

"As we wrap up, I want everyone to think about this: What's one thing you'll think about differently next time you use technology – whether it's AI, your phone, or a Chromebook? Maybe you'll be more aware of your screen time, or think about privacy, or question information you find online."

(Allow 1-2 quick shares if time permits.)

Teacher: "Thank you for a great discussion! Please hand in your Worksheet: Tech T-Chart Challenge on your way out."

Tech T-Chart Challenge

Name: __________________________

Group Members: __________________________

Assigned Technology: __________________________

Work with your group to brainstorm and write down as many benefits (ways it helps us) and pitfalls (challenges or problems it creates) for your assigned technology. Be ready to share your ideas!

Benefits (Friend!)

Pitfalls (Foe!)

Reflection Question: After discussing with your group, what is one new idea you have about using technology responsibly?

Tech Talk-Around: Class Discussion Prompts

These prompts are designed to facilitate brief class discussions during and after the Slide Deck: Tech: Friend or Foe? presentation. The teacher should use these to encourage student participation and check for understanding.

During Presentation (After each technology section):

After AI Discussion:

• "What's a way AI has helped you or made something easier for you or someone you know?"
• "What's one thing we need to be careful about when using AI?"

After Cell Phone Discussion:

• "Besides calling or texting, what's one amazing thing your cell phone lets you do?"
• "How has a cell phone helped you feel safer or more connected?"
• "What's a strategy you use to avoid getting too distracted by your phone, or to limit your screen time?"

After Chromebook Discussion:

• "How is a Chromebook different from a regular laptop or even a tablet you might use at home?"
• "What's your favorite thing about using a Chromebook for schoolwork?"
• "When might a Chromebook not be the best tool for a task?"

After Group Activity (Share Out):

• "Can each group quickly share 1-2 key benefits and pitfalls you identified for your assigned technology?"
• "What's one thing you'll think about differently next time you use technology – whether it's AI, your phone, or a Chromebook?"

Tech T-Chart Challenge Activity

Objective

Students will collaboratively identify and categorize benefits and pitfalls of specific technologies (AI, Cell Phones, Chromebooks).

Materials

• Worksheet: Tech T-Chart Challenge (one per student)
• Pens or Markers

Instructions

1. Form Groups (1 minute): The teacher will divide the class into small groups (3-4 students per group).
2. Assign Technology (1 minute): Each group will be assigned one of the three technologies: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cell Phones, or Chromebooks.
3. Distribute Worksheets (1 minute): The teacher will distribute the Worksheet: Tech T-Chart Challenge to each student.
4. Brainstorm & Fill T-Chart (6 minutes): In their groups, students will brainstorm and discuss the benefits and pitfalls of their assigned technology. They should aim to list as many as possible in the respective "Benefits (Friend!)" and "Pitfalls (Foe!)" sections of their worksheets. Encourage them to think beyond what was discussed in the presentation.
5. Prepare for Share Out (1 minute): Each group should select a spokesperson to share 1-2 key benefits and pitfalls with the class.

Guiding Questions for Groups

• How does this technology make life easier or better?
• What problems can this technology solve?
• What are some fun or educational things you can do with it?
• What are the potential downsides or risks of using this technology?
• How might this technology cause problems for individuals or society?
• Are there any unexpected negative consequences?

Teacher Role During Activity

• Circulate among groups, listening to discussions.
• Provide prompts or clarify misconceptions.
• Encourage all students to participate.
• Ensure groups are staying on task.
• Remind students of the time remaining.