Artificial Intelligence — What It Actually Is

This lesson, Artificial Intelligence — What It Actually Is, teaches students how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large language models actually work while helping them critically evaluate AI-generated information in real-world situations. Students learn the difference between traditional rule-based programming and machine learning systems, explore how AI tools generate predictions, and examine concepts such as hallucinations, bias, labor displacement, accountability, and prompt engineering. The lesson also guides students through analyzing real versus science-fiction AI concerns, evaluating the reliability of AI outputs, and applying an AI analytical framework to news stories, healthcare scenarios, and research tasks. Through structured activities, students practice critical thinking, source verification, data analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and effective prompt writing to better understand the growing role of AI in society.

What’s Included:

• Student article
• Lesson objective
• Application questions
• Data table & analysis
• Hypothesis builder
• Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER)
• Primary source analysis (DBQ)
• Hypotheticals
• Multiple choice
• True / False
• Vocabulary
• Short essay
• Crossword puzzle
• Word search