Explore Artificial Intelligence Through the Novel Klara and the Sun
Help me give my students an exciting and recently published dystopian novel that will encourage them to think critically about the ever-changing technology around us.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. McSween's classroom raised $480
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Project
Our students are navigating a world in which technology is rapidly changing, especially in terms of artificial intelligence. AI is everywhere: in the news, on our phones, in the workplace, and, increasingly, in schools. We want our students to think critically about the benefits, the drawbacks, and the gray areas that lie between so that they can consider what fast-improving technology means for us as a society, all while reading a beautifully written piece of contemporary dystopian literature.
Klara and the Sun, written by Japanese-British author Kazuo Ishiguro, is a fantastic way for students to grapple with themes surrounding AI, genetic manipulation, privilege, loneliness, love, and what it means to be human.
As students read, we will explore several questions to spark curiosity: How can we engage responsibly with AI? How can it both inspire and hinder our individual and societal capabilities? What are the ethical and societal implications of creating AI with human-like consciousness? How can technology both bridge and widen social divides?
This is an inclusion class with special education and general education students in class together. Having full class sets of this novel ensures that our students can have access at all times to their reading and have a place to keep track of Post-It note annotations. Many of our students work after school ends and have multiple other non-school-related responsibilities, so having copies for all students to read in class and at home is crucial for their engagement and success in this unit. It also gives students extra time to read or complete their work if needed, an accommodation that is part of some IEPs.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. McSween and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
