Alexa in Space

Lesson 1: Intro to AI and Alexa

Teacher Lesson Plan

Lesson 1: Intro to AI and Alexa

Lesson 1 At-A-Glance

In this lesson, students will be introduced to AI and explore how Alexa could be used in space travel.

Learning Goals:

  • Explain how Alexa is an example of AI.
  • Identify how Alexa can be used to perform basic tasks.

Language Goals:

  • Define in writing the artificial intelligence.
  • Orally describe the characteristics of technology that use artificial intelligence.

Materials:

1

Introduce the unit by explaining that they will be exploring the challenges that exist with space travel and how they will be building an Alexa skill that could help with some of these challenges.

Including All Learners: Show students that they can hover over some words in their activity guide for definitions.

2

Show AFE Callisto Space Innovation Tour.

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

3

Ask: What are some difficulties astronauts may encounter while traveling in space?

Including All Learners: Allow students to share in smaller groups before sharing with the class to increase engagement.

4

Have students share with the class.

Including All Learners: List the challenges that students list on the board for students with hearing challenges.

5

Explain that communication can be one of the biggest challenges that exist with space travel.

6

Introduce AI as a potential to fix the problem of communication.

7

Ask: What is AI and how do you think it could help? Students should discuss with a group or partner. Have students share after a few minutes.

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

8

Show Introduction to Artificial Intelligence video.

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

9

Have students complete the “Is it AI?” activity with their partners or group.

Including All Learners: Providing a time limit for this activity would help students with executive function difficulties.

10

Review the answers together as a class, correcting any misconceptions.

Including All Learners: Students are provided with the correct answer and rationale in the activity guide. Use this time to emphasize that many of these relate to the context.

11

Show How speech recognition works in under 4 minutes video.

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

12

Explain that speech recognition works by using neural networks and define neural networks.

13

Ask: How is Amazon Alexa an example of AI? Allow students time to discuss.

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

14

Explain that Alexa is an example of AI, specifically Voice AI.

15

Instruct students to discuss with their partners or groups and create a list of tasks that Alexa (or voice assistants) currently do. Including All Learners: Some students may not have experience with Alexa or voice assistants. This would be a good time to share an AI device if you have one. If you do not, this video explains the functionality of Alexa.

16

After students have a list of tasks that Alexa does, have them highlight, circle, or otherwise indicate which of the tasks Alexa could help with in space travel.

17

Show Hour of AI 2022 - Voice AI Basics to define wake words, intents, and utterances as a way to close the class for today.

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

18

Recap the highlights of class and direct students to answer the reflection 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

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) - a computer program designed to simulate human intelligence.
  • Alexa - Amazon’s voice-controlled virtual assistant which can play audio, control smart homes, answer questions, and help with productivity.
  • ELIZA - early natural language processing computer program created from 1964 to 1966 at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory by Joseph Weizenbaum.
  • Speech recognition - an application of AI technology that interprets and carries out spoken commands and/or aims to identify an individual based on their speech patterns.
  • Speech synthesis - the artificial production of human speech
  • 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…