Applications of AI

Overview

This 60-minute lesson is the fourth in a six-lesson unit on "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" designed for Year 9-10 students. The lesson explores real-world applications of AI across various industries, aligning with the National Curriculum for England’s Technology programmes of study. Students will engage in research, collaborative discussion, and written reporting to deepen their understanding of AI’s practical impact.

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National Curriculum Links

This lesson supports the Computing and Design & Technology programmes of study within the National Curriculum:

• Computing Key Stage 3:

  • Design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems (NC Ref: KS3/Comp/3.2)
  • Understand how instructions are executed by a computer and how data is represented and manipulated digitally (NC Ref: KS3/Comp/3.1)
  • Understand the impact of digital technology on wider society including ethical considerations (NC Ref: KS3/Comp/3.6)

• Design & Technology KS3:

  • How to combine and organise technologies to achieve functional outcomes (NC Ref: KS3/DT/3.1)
  • Consider social, moral, environmental, and economic impacts of technologies (NC Ref: KS3/DT/3.8)

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify and categorise real-world applications of AI in sectors such as healthcare, finance, entertainment, transport, and education.
• Analyse specific AI case studies to understand technological integration and its benefits and challenges.
• Communicate findings clearly through structured written reports to demonstrate comprehension and critical thinking.

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Resources

• Curated suite of AI case studies (printed and digital) across varied industries
• Sector assignment slips for each student group (e.g. healthcare, finance, entertainment)
• Research worksheets with guided enquiry questions
• Stationery and laptops/tablets with Internet access for research (monitored)
• Projector and whiteboard for summarising discussion points

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter (10 minutes)

• Contextual Introduction:
  Teacher briefly recaps previous lessons covering AI fundamentals and introduces today’s focus on practical applications.
• Engagement Question:
  “Can you think of any examples of AI you have encountered in everyday life or news?”
• Students share ideas verbally or via mini whiteboards to surface prior knowledge.

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2. Research Project (20 minutes)

• Students subdivided into 5 groups of 5, each assigned a different sector (healthcare, finance, entertainment, transport, education).
• Teacher distributes tailored sets of AI case studies relevant to each sector.
• Guided enquiry worksheet prompts:
  • What AI technologies are used in this sector?
  • What problems do these AI systems solve?
  • What are the benefits and potential ethical concerns?
  • How might AI change this sector in the next 5–10 years?
• Students use laptops/tablets to supplement case study information with curated web research, guided by digital citizenship rules.

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3. Group Discussion (15 minutes)

• Groups synthesise research answers into a concise summary.
• Each group presents key findings to the class using the whiteboard/projector.
• Teacher facilitates discussion inviting critical perspectives, such as:
  • Ethical implications of AI deployment
  • Job displacement versus job creation by AI
  • Data privacy and security concerns
  • Environmental impact of AI systems

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4. Written Report Introduction (10 minutes)

• Teacher outlines the assessment: a written report due next lesson on the group’s assigned sector and AI applications.
• Teacher models a paragraph structure focusing on clarity, technical vocabulary, and critical insight.
• Students begin drafting points in their research worksheet to scaffold report writing.

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5. Plenary & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Quick round: each student says one new fact or insight gained today.
• Teacher gives brief overview of next lesson (Lesson 5: Ethical Considerations in AI).
• Homework reminder: Start drafting written report, integrating feedback from group discussion.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Mixed-ability groups ensure peer support; roles assigned within groups (researcher, scribe, presenter).
• Worksheets provide scaffolding with sentence starters and vocabulary lists for lower ability learners.
• Extension tasks for higher ability: Compare and contrast AI applications across sectors or predict future AI trends.
• Use of visual case studies supports learners with reading difficulties.

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Assessment

Formative:

• Observation during group research and discussion for understanding and engagement.
• Questioning during presentations to gauge analytical skills.

Summative:

• Written report assessed using a rubric focusing on:
  • Accurate identification of AI applications
  • Depth of analysis regarding benefits and challenges
  • Use of technical terminology
  • Structure, clarity, and coherence of writing

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Cross-Curricular Opportunities

• English: report writing skills including structuring information clearly and using technical vocabulary.
• Citizenship: exploring ethical and social impacts of emerging technologies.
• Science: links with computing concepts and broader technology design.

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Teacher Notes

• Encourage students to think critically—not just what AI does but why and with what consequences.
• Use provocative questions to stimulate debate during group presentations.
• Highlight real-world examples linked to current news or technologies the students may know.
• For schools with AI tools, consider a demo in Lesson 5 of AI-generated text/images as a hook to ethical discussions.

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This lesson aims to inspire Year 9-10 students by connecting AI theory with tangible real-world contexts, building foundational technological literacy and ethical awareness as outlined in the National Curriculum for England.