Sunday, June 22, 2014

T3 EOT


The End of the Term exam will include….

A listening section about “appliance of science” as well as “non verbal communication.”
A reading section about the appliance of science.
A writing section that is a for or against essay about appliance of science.

I have not seen the exam so I do not know exactly what will be on it but hopefully this post can remind you.


LISTENING:

Read the questions before you listen.
Answer the questions as you listen and make a quick note of why it is correct.

I am told there will be one listening on Nonverbal Communication (gestures and tone of voice) and one listening on Appliance of Science (robots, new technology, etc)


READING:

Read the questions before you read.
Skim and scan.
Remember that you may have to look for synonyms of the words of the question in the text.

The reading, I am told will be about topics similar to ones we read in the “appliance of science” unit.


WRITING:

You will be asked to write a “for or against” essay on the topic of appliance of science. This will likely be you writing about the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology (the internet, robots, video games, driverless cars, artificial intelligence etc).

Read the rubric, if one is provided.

Remember that you should write 4 paragraphs.

Introduction/ Paragraph 1:
Include a short definition of the topic. If it is about something new that is now popular then describe how it is now popular. (Its new popularity is why it is a controversial topic.) Ask the audience a question about the pros and cons/advantages and disadvantages of the topic.

Paragraph 2 or 3:
Write about the advantages of the topic. You can use your own personal experience as details or things that you know about the topic.

Paragraph 2 or 3:
Write about disadvantages of the topic. You can use your own personal experience as details or things that you know about the topic.

Conclusion/Paragraph 4:
Write your opinion about if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or now.
Briefly summarize the important details.
Answer the question that you asked in paragraph 1.

MAKE SURE TO USE CONNECTION WORDS:
For example, however, moreover, furthermore, to sum up, in addition, also, nowadays, firstly, finally, in conclusion,


Example FOR AND AGAINST essays:


"MOBILE PHONES"

Thirty years ago almost nobody had a mobile phone. Nowadays, it seems everybody has one, from the youngest to the oldest. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Mobile phones can be useful for a number of reasons. Firstly, they allow us to communicate quickly in almost any situation. This can be really useful in emergencies, for example. Furthermore, they make it easy for people who are alone to be in contact with others. In this way, they do not feel so lonely. Finally, they are useful for other things, not just for making calls. For instance, we can use them to listen to music, play games and take photos.

However, mobile phones have disadvantages too. People depend on them too much and make calls which are not really necessary. What's more, their use can be dangerous, for example when they are used by people when they are driving. In addition, people open use them in public places and this can be very annoying, for example in cinemas, restaurants or on public transport.

To sum up, mobile phones have advantages but, on the I other hand, they can also create problems. In my opinion, life would be worse without them because they often make our lives easier. However, we should limit their use because people often become addicted to them and use them for no real reason.




"TELEVISION"

In the early 1950s, very few people had a television. By the end of the century, almost every household in the western world had one television set, and many had several. Is this a good' or a bad thing?

Television can be interesting and used in a number of ways. Firstly, nature or cultural programmes are fascinating, and viewers can experience places and events they might never see in real life. Furthermore, soaps or comedy programmes can make people laugh and allow them to relax after a day at work. What's more, many programmes are educational and can help students of foreign languages, for example. Finally, television is a comfort to old people ix those who live on their own.

However, television has disadvantages too. People no longer read, listen to music or talk to each other because the TV is always on. What's more, there are hundreds of channels available arid many of them are unsuitable for children. In addition, television advertising can be had because it encourages viewers to want lots of things they don't really need Personally, I think this can be very dangerous, for example, during children's television when they advertise expensive toys or gadgets.

In conclusion, television is not necessarily a bad thing but parents should be careful how much their children watch, In my opinion, good programmes that are well made are fantastic but, on the other hand, they do prevent people from taking part in other activities and some of the output is unsuitable.




GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

...By a Robot

TERM  3  REVISION

What human jobs will this robot drone replace?




Open up a Titan Pad and share the link with a partner.

Copy and Paste the tasks into your Titan Pad.


TASK 1)

List as many jobs as you can think of that are or will be done by robots.
EXAMPLE:
* Delivery men
* Surgeon
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Check your list with ....

Business Insider list of  “Who could be replaced

Or what Wikipedia says about the "Future of Robotics."

Or read the topic sentences in this "Which jobs robots will do" news report. 



TASK 2) Go back to your list in TASK 1, next to each job, write a verb that you connect to the job.

EXAMPLE:
Delivery men, deliver


TASK 3) For each job in task 1, next to the job, write a noun that works with.

EXAMPLE:
Delivery men, deliver, package


Submit a your ideas to the list at https://mrrob.titanpad.com/4
The password is ATHS.


TASK 4) Imagine you a re a journalist talking about robots. Write two sets of ACTIVE VOICE sentences (using three tenses) talking about what robots can do.

Subject + verb + object

EXAMPLE:
Past: The robot delivered the package.
Present: The robot delivers the package.
Future: The robot will deliver the package.

*Past:
*Present:
*Future:

*Past:
*Present:
*Future:




TASK 5) Again, imagine you are a journalist talking about robots. Write two sets of  PASSSIVE VOICE sentences (using three tenses) talking about what robots can do.

Subject + [to be] + past participle of verb (preposition + agent)
To be= is, was, were, am, is being, has been, have been
Propositions=  by, in, on, at, to, for, from, with, about

EXAMPLE:
Past: The package was delivered by a robot.
Present: The package is being delivered by a robot.
Future: The package will be delivered by a robor.


*Past:
*Present:
*Future:

*Past:
*Present:
*Future:


TASK 7) Now, imagine you are a customer talking about robots. Write two sets of sentences (in three tenses) talking about what robots do for you.

Subject + have/get + object + past participle of verb (preposition + agent)

EXAMPLE:
Past: I had the package delivered by a robot.
Present: I am having the package delivered by a robot.
Future: We will have the package delivered by a robot.

*
*
*

*
*
*



------------------------------------------

Grammar: Have something done
To talk about actions that we do not do ourselves but are done for us...

Subject + have/get + object + past participle of verb (preposition + agent)

You will have your passport checked at the airport by a robot.
We had our car fixed by a robot.
He got his hair cut by a robot.


-----------------------------


TASK 8: Re-write these sentences in the “have something done” format

1) Robots fixed our computer last week.

We…

2) Robots are going to service my car next week.

I…

3) Robots always make his breakfast.

He…..

4) Her robots henna her hands.

She….



TASK 9: Re-order these sentences:

1) cut often you do by get How robots hair your?


2) robots ever Have taken out tooth by had you a?


3) Do your photo robot you taken like by having?


4) Have drawn robot had you ever by picture you?


TASK 10: Design your own robot.

What is your robot's niche (what specific activities and jobs will it be good at):

Who will like your robot:

Why will they like them (what are your robot's advantages)?

Who will dislike your robot:

Why will they dislike them (what are your robot's disadvantages)

Name your robot:


Task 11: You are a salesman for the robots. Write a short paragraph persuading people to buy your robot. Use persuasive phrases (You must, you should, you need to, it is important that, It is essential,  Obviously, I strongly believe)




Task 12: You are protesting robots so imagine you hate robots, Write a short paragraph persuading people that robots are bad. (You must, you should, you need to, it is important that, It is essential,  Obviously, I strongly believe)



TASK 13: Role-play. 

One person is a salesperson trying to sell the robot.
What body language and non-verbal communication will he do?



One person is a costumer thinking about buying a robot.
What body language and non-verbal communication will he do?


One person is a protester trying to convince people robots are bad.
What body language and non-verbal communication will he do?


Plan Script for role-play:











Sunday, June 8, 2014

AI


Open up a TitanPad. Share the link with your partner. 

COPY AND PASTE THESE TASKS TO TITANPAD


TASK 1: 

Briefly discuss with group mates - YOU DO NOT NEED TO WRITE YOUR ANSWERS:

A) Do you prefer to play games against your friends or against the computer? Why?
B) How is it different to play against the computer?

C) Do you think this will change? How so?



TASK 2:

With your group, discuss and WRITE out short answers to the following questions:

What is intelligence?


What is artificial intelligence?


Who is more intelligent, the world’s greatest scientist or the world’s more powerful computer? Why?


TASK 3): 

radicalvery new and different from what is traditional or ordinary 
SENTENCE:
exhibitto show or reveal (something)
SENTENCE:
indistinguishableunable to be recognized as different
SENTENCE:
conferencea formal meeting in which a small number of people talk about something
SENTENCE:
consensusa general agreement about something 
SENTENCE:
intertwineto twist (things) together
SENTENCE:


After completing your answers, fill in the questions that Mr. Rob assign's your group to the class' shared TitanPad: https://mrrob.titanpad.com/2 The password is 4444.


TASK 4): 

Read the news article posted on my blog, entitled "Robots Smarter than Humans" 
http://robaths.blogspot.ae/2014/06/robots-smarter-than-humans.html )


Answer the following questions: 

1. Where does Ray Kurzweil's work, what is his job title and what is he an expert on?


2. What will computers soon be able to make up on their own?


3. Explain, in your own words, what is the Turing test?


4. When did scientists think it would be hundreds of years before computers were very intelligent?


5. How many times more powerful than the brain will computers become?


6. What changed about Dr. Kurzweil’s opinion on the future of AI?


7. What has persuaded so many people to agree with Dr Kurzweil’s point of view? What examples are mentioned in the text?


8. Does the text imply that 'the singularity'  will be a good or a bad thing for humanity? How so?



After completing your answers, fill in the questions that Mr. Rob assign's your group to the class' shared TitanPad: https://mrrob.titanpad.com/2 The password is 4444.


TASK 5)

As a group, you will discuss and answer the following:

“When computers will become too intelligent, they will be a problem. Agree or disagree.”


Use this outline to form your answer. Work as a team.

USE YOUR TITANPAD.


What are some examples of Artificial Intelligence:
*
*
*
*


Make a list of the advantages of computers being more intelligent than humans. Include examples.
*
*
*
*
*
*

Make a list of disadvantages of computers being more intelligent than humans. Include examples.
*
*
*
*
*
*

What is your groups opinion. Will improving article intelligence will be better or worse for humanity? Why?

*
*
*
*


TASK 6: Make a http://padlet.com of the advantages and disadvantages. Include photos of your examples.

Choose one representative of your group to present to the group in a class discussion.




TASK 7: Assess Class Debate:

List two positive examples mentioned by another group in the debate:
*
*
*

List two negative examples mentioned by another group in the debate:
*
*
*

Summarize the reasons for the opinion of two other groups
*

*



E-mail me your TitanPad.




TASK 8:

Go to SurveyMonkey and answer questions about today's class: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DKLWWHF



HOMEWORK:

Ask Eugene Goostman a question. He has recently become a world famous 13 year old in robotics.