Alexa in Space

Lesson 2: Biases in AI

Teacher Lesson Plan

Lesson 2: Biases in AI

Lesson 2 At-A-Glance

In this lesson, students will learn about AI bias and some ways to reduce or eliminate biases in their programs. Students will also use and modify an Alexa skill built in MIT App Inventor.

Learning Goals:

  • Discuss how technology that use AI have biases.
  • Identify wake words, intents, and utterances of existing Alexa skills built in MIT App Inventor.

Language Goals:

  • Describe in writing benefits of using Alexa during space travel.
  • Explain in writing the importance of identifying and addressing bias in AI.

Materials:

1

Introduce the lesson by explaining that as powerful as AI is, there are some implications that we need to be aware of. Show Algorithmic Bias (Smart House) video.

Including All Learners: Turn on Closed Captioning to help students that may need to read the words in the video.

2

Ask: What issues have you heard about Voice AI? Allow the students to share. If someone brings up biases, continue with the lesson. If not, hint at it by mentioning some difficulties that some people have when using Alexa, especially individuals that do not speak American English.

Including All Learners: Since bias can be adjacent to some issues that can be triggering, carefully direct the conversation as needed.

3

Have students with partners or with a group create a list of ways bias can exist in computer science. After students create the list, discuss as a whole class.

Including All Learners: Providing a time limit on each student’s response allows students to have equitable opportunities for sharing their thoughts.

4

Show Algorithmic bias explained video.

Including All Learners: Turn on Closed Captioning to help students that may need to read the words in the video.

5

Have students return to their lists with their partners or groups to discuss ways to combat biases.

Including All Learners: Providing a time limit on each student’s response allows students to have equitable opportunities for sharing their thoughts.

6

Instruct students to review the new words that were discussed at the end of class on the previous day by exploring the infographic in their activity guide.  

7

Show the MIT App Inventor (Alexa edition) GUI and instruct students to sign in. If this is the first time students have used the App Inventor interface, explain how to navigate the interface.

Including All Learners: Provide the appropriate amount of wait time here to ensure that students do not fall behind.

8

Instruct students to open the Good Morning, Space skill project by clicking on the link in the student activity guide. Student should Save Project so they can access it from their account in the future.

9

Show students how to test the Alexa skill.  

9

Instruct students to work with partners to identify wake words, intents, and utterances within the Good Morning, Space skill project in the student activity guide. Assist students that are having trouble identifying the components of the program.

10

Have students complete the Check for Understanding in their activity guide.

Including All Learners: Emphasize that this activity is for them to learn, not to be penalized.

11

Encourage students to use and modify the project, noting in their activity guide what different components do and any changes that happen when altering the program.

Including All Learners: Students may need additional reassurance that they are free to modify - some can commonly be hesitant when learning something new.

12

Recap the highlights of class and direct students to answer the reflections questions in their activity guide.

Including All Learners: Direct students to save work and make browser shortcuts. This will help students remain organized for class in the future.

Key CS Definitions

  • Bias - prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair
  • MIT App Inventor - web-based integrated development environment originally provided by Google, and now maintained by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that allows people to create app easily
  • Skill - a set of commands or questions that you can program to use with Alexa
  • Wake Word - a phrase that causes a device using Alexa to begin recording a user's request so that it can be processed
  • Intent - The task you are asking your Alexa to complete. It is a user’s intention given a sentence or a command
  • Utterance - The task you are asking your Alexa to complete. It is a user’s intention given a sentence or a command

Teacher Reflection

What worked and what didn’t?

Answer here…

What would you change about the lesson?

Answer here…