NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this bell ringer activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Humpback whales are some of the largest creatures on Earth and live in every one of the planet’s oceans. Their seasonal migrations are among the longest of any mammal, stretching thousands of miles. Now, scientists are using AI-powered facial recognition technology to track the whales on their journeys, offering new insights into their habits and health.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- How much do adult humpback whales typically weigh?
- Which part of the whale do scientists use for identification?
- Who is Ted Cheeseman, and what is his background?
- What is Happywhale.com, and what is its purpose?
- Where does Cecilia Ruiz run her whale watching expeditions?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
- You have probably seen or used ChatGPT or another generative AI product that is marketed to everyday consumers. But what do you think are some more sophisticated, specialized tasks that AI could do to help scientists?
- Do you think there is a difference in AI that is free to use on the web and the kind of AI that scientists can access?
- Do you think there might be downsides for scientists using AI, and if so, what?
Media literacy: How might the way AI is framed or described change depending on who is sharing the information, such as scientists, journalists or technology companies? Why do you think these differences occur?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Citizen Science Infographic Activity
Assignment: Research the concept of citizen science and create an infographic that highlights the importance of public involvement in scientific research.
Your infographic should include:
- A definition of citizen science
- An explanation of how Happywhale.com uses citizen science
- Reasons why citizen science is important
- Examples of other ways people can get involved in scientific research
- Visuals: graphs, charts, maps, photographs, drawings, etc.
Written by Brooke Ingemi, PBS News Hour Classroom's intern and senior at Amherst College, and News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.
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