From muscle machines to smart machines (LS-PT-216)

For the first time in history, humankind is challenged by smart agents concerning capabilities that we consider as exclusive to human beings. This is having an enormous impact on all components of our lives. The way we work (workplace) will be one of the most affected. This learning scenario will explore the transformation in the workplace from the technology that replaces the human muscle force to technology that is replacing us on intelligent tasks. Students will be invited to compare the workplace of the past with the ones of today and the future and reflect on how this will impact their lives and what are the key competences to thrive in a Digital Automated Smart World.

The aim of this lesson is to discuss and reflect on the impact of automation and smart agents will have on our lives fueled by Artificial Intelligence, mainly on the labor market and how this could result in new orders of social organization and structures. Marco’s learning scenario touches upon questions such as the lack of employment, universal basic income (UBI), Skills for an AI world, Automation, Industrial Revolution.

The contents of this learning scenario fit into three subjects of the curriculum: In History when addressing the contents of the industrial revolutions, in Citizenship through the impacts of hyper digitization on people’s lives and in ICT in the construction and development of digital products to support differentiated content.

In History, this important theme can be debated within the topic of the Expansion of the Industrial Revolution, making the bridge in comparison with today’s automation processes. Using this Learning Scenario as a collaborative and interdisciplinary one, the issues of impact, challenges and opportunities can be linked to the phenomenon of citizenship. At the conclusion of the interdisciplinary process, students with the data, information and content collected in History and Citizenship build digital artefacts that reflect their views and opinions on this theme.

Would you like to know more about this learning scenario? You can download it below:

Europeana-DSI-4-LS-2020-Portugal-Neves-docx Download

Europeana-DSI-4-LS-2020-Portugal-Neves-pdf Download

Did you find this learning scenario interesting? You might also like:

The featured image used to illustrate this article belongs to the public domain.

14 Responses to "From muscle machines to smart machines (LS-PT-216)"

dilajlapavletic says:

December 22, 2019 at 3:32 pm

Dear Marco,
Your scenario is so demanding for my class but I got some interesting idea reading it. Exploring the transformation in the workplace really reflects on how our lives are being impact today. Students usually do not think about that. I like the discussion about question: “What is expected from us during the time of digital transformation?”.

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1. Marco Neves says:
  
  December 22, 2019 at 4:38 pm
  
  Hi,
  
  Thanks for your reply. This is really a very pertinent and demanding topic. Is crucial that we, educators, stayed aware of all the tremendous new challenges and opportunities raised by AI and the impacts of it in the workplace.
  Looking into the past and understanding it, trough using digital cultural heritage is one of the most interesting and effective approaches to help us in knowing what the future will look like.
  
  Please take a look at one of my presentations, that could be useful when implementing this LS, about the impacts of living side by side with cognitive machines: https://www.slideshare.net/marconeves351/artificial-intelligence-challenges-and-opportunities
  
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ellarakovacbekes says:

December 27, 2019 at 8:37 pm

Dear Marco,

even if I don`t teach any of the subject listed in this scenario, I found it very interesting and apealing for integrating it with Mathematics. Students are invited to compare the workplace of the past with the ones
of today and the future and reflect on how this is impacting their lives. I find this a great base for introducing Data Literacy as one of key 21st century competencies, by giving students an activity for guided research about different data charts on increase (or decrease) manpower versus automation (robots). I think this “addition” would go great with your LS.

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1. Marco Neves says:
  
  December 28, 2019 at 3:33 pm
  
  Hi,
  
  That´s a great idea. So glad to know that you looked at my LS and found an idea to talk about such an important topic as data literacy.
  
  Can´t wait to hear a Story of Implementation from you concerning this LS and working in a math class environment discussing Data Literacy. Talking about increasing productivity, in the last decades, compared to not increasing wages may be an interesting approach the impact that automation has on this will be very interesting.
  
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marcinjablonski says:

January 13, 2020 at 12:18 pm

Hi Marco.
Reflection on changing times, in relation to the workplace, an extremely needed point of view for young people! Transformation in the workplace really reflects on how our lives are changing today. Students usually don’t think about that.
Graeting from Grudziądz/PL

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1. Marco Neves says:
  
  January 13, 2020 at 1:04 pm
  
  Hi,
  
  Completely agree with you.
  
  This a very crucial issue that should be discussed with our students but is not happening. I hope that this LS could help with that.
  
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ivanabusuttil says:

January 20, 2020 at 12:44 pm

Dear Marco, although this learning scenario is aimed at upper secondary, and thus difficult to produce with my class (primary school children), I found the activities really interesting and I believe that throughout each activity children are given ample of opportunities to think critically. Well done!

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1. Marco Neves says:
  
  January 21, 2020 at 10:58 pm
  
  Dear Ivana,
  
  They are also some activities that you can use with primary school children concerning this thematic. This one from Code.org is very interesting https://code.org/oceans. If you applied some of the activities with your students please share it on the blog.
  
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  1. ivanabusuttil says:
    
    January 22, 2020 at 8:54 am
    
    Thank you very much Marco. I’ll check the website out and share the activities on the blog!
    
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ayrtoncurmi says:

January 21, 2020 at 9:32 pm

First of all, thank you for sharing Marco.

This learning scenario is very interesting because it makes us think of several questions. In today’s educational system, are we teaching our pupils the skills needed for the working world in about another 10 years time? It’s a very interesting topic since our lessons should promote 21st-century skills required in today’s world. I really appreciate your choice of activities and I’m sure that pupils were engaged during this LS.

Well Done!!

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1. Marco Neves says:
  
  January 21, 2020 at 11:05 pm
  
  Hi,
  
  Very glad that you found the LS interesting concerning the thematic of AI and the possibility to cross it with the key competences that we should promote in our students concerning all the big changes that are happening today. Please check one of my presentations about the topic, that you could also use during the implementation of this LS: https://www.slideshare.net/marconeves351/artificial-intelligence-challenges-and-opportunities
  
  If you implement the LS with your students, please share the feedback with us.
  
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sandratroia says:

April 12, 2021 at 12:04 am

Dear Marco,
I think the theme of your Learning Scenario is very topical and it is useful to guide students to reflect on this epoch-making change and the effects it will have in the short, medium and long term on the lives of all of us.
I was not aware of and have experimented with the tricider.com application. I found it easy to use and useful to guide a brainstorming or debate in an organised way.

I was impressed and found the selection of sources you proposed very interesting.I n particular
– Robots Aren’t Taking Over Yet! How to Prepare Your Students for Artificial Intelligence
– The Future of Work
– Robots And AI: The Future Is Automated And Every Job Is At Risk
– What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

I agree with the choice of stimulating students to create in order to re-elaborate the information received in a personal and meaningful way:
– A reflection document;
– A YouTube channel;
– Framework competences for an AI world.

I would like to know more about the Framework competences for an AI world!

Thanks for sharing!

…If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend https://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/are-robots-taking-our-jobs/
Sandra

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1. Marco Neves says:
  
  April 12, 2021 at 1:22 pm
  
  Dear Sandra,
  
  Thank you for sharing your opinion concerning this LS and really good to know that you really enjoy it. Once you are interested in the topic please take the opportunity to explore some of my presentations around this theme https://www.slideshare.net/marconeves351/.
  
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Alma Suto says:

April 13, 2022 at 7:59 pm

Dear Marco,

I often talk to students about digital transformation and jobs in the future, so your learning scenario fits perfectly into my ICT and Technology Educatin classes. I plan to implement it in my class soon and I’m already looking forward to it.

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