Exploring Human Values

Me with (Smart) Objects

7-8 years

20 min

Learning goal :

Learning to differentiate a human being from an "intelligent" machine

Pedagogical Intention :

Identify moral differences

Target skills :

Understanding that humans have a value system, unlike machines.

Materials :

Values list + concrete examples

Detailed Procedure :

1. Brainstorm with students on preserving humanity: is it important? What must we do to achieve this? Why does it matter to us? 2. The teacher submits scenarios to the AI where the goal is to increase the production of an object even if humanity is not preserved: discussion on the response. 3. Group analysis. 4. Whole-class discussion. 5. Drawing or written summary: students conclude that AI has no intrinsic value of preserving humanity — it optimizes a goal set by humans without its own moral evaluation. The teacher emphasizes that this is precisely why humans must remain responsible for the goals they assign to machines.

Progress Indicators

The student associates a value with a real situation and explains why a machine cannot have intrinsic values.

Research Foundations

Civic education.