AI for High School: Ethical AI and Digital Privacy Grade 9

Explore the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence and discover why privacy, fairness, and human responsibility matter in the digital world! Our “AI for High School: Ethical AI and Digital Privacy — Grade 9” course invites learners to investigate how artificial intelligence collects and processes personal and biometric data, makes predictions, influences decisions, and affects human rights. Through a fictional international airport case study, real-world scenarios, and interactive activities, students explore facial recognition, data protection, algorithmic bias, ethical decision-making, and AI accountability. They also examine how automated systems can affect different individuals and communities and why human oversight is essential. Throughout the course, learners develop critical-thinking skills, learn to evaluate evidence, question automated decisions, and make informed choices about the responsible use of AI.

Why choose our course:

• Understand AI, privacy, and surveillance: Explore how artificial intelligence collects, processes, and uses personal and biometric data. Discover how facial recognition and surveillance technologies work, examine privacy risks, and learn why data protection matters.
• Explore how AI makes decisions: Investigate how AI systems analyze information, recognize patterns, and make predictions that can influence people's lives. Learn to distinguish between facial verification and identification, recognize potential system errors, and evaluate the reliability of automated decisions.
• Discover how people become data: Examine how personal characteristics and human behavior are transformed into digital information. Explore the social impact of AI, identify stakeholders, and investigate how data quality, representativeness, and algorithmic bias can lead to unfair outcomes for different individuals and groups.
• Develop ethical reasoning and critical thinking: Explore real-world ethical dilemmas involving artificial intelligence. Learn to construct evidence-based arguments, consider counterarguments, compare alternative solutions, and evaluate how AI decisions affect individuals, communities, and society.
• Understand AI accountability and human oversight: Discover who is responsible when AI systems make mistakes or cause harm. Explore the roles of human oversight, accountability, audits, monitoring, and appeals in responsible AI governance. Learn why people must remain involved in decisions that affect human rights and well-being.

Course Syllabus

Module 1: Privacy, Data and AI Decision-Making

• Lesson 1: Privacy and Surveillance
• Lesson 2: AI and Decision Making
• Knowledge Checks

Module 2: People as Data and the Social Impact of AI

• Lesson 3: Turning People into Data
• Lesson 4: AI in the Real World
• Knowledge Checks

Module 3: AI Ethical Dilemmas and Accountability

• Lesson 5: AI Ethics Debate
• Lesson 6: AI Accountability and Governance
• Knowledge Checks

General Information

This course is designed for learners aged 14 and above and consists of three modules, each containing two lessons, for a total of six lessons. The learning materials include instructional videos, real-world examples, case studies, and assessment quizzes that reinforce key concepts and help learners check their understanding throughout the course. Students can progress at their own pace while exploring the ethical, social, and legal challenges associated with artificial intelligence.

Throughout the course, learners investigate how AI systems collect and process personal and biometric data, influence decisions, and affect privacy, fairness, and human rights. Using a fictional international airport case study, they explore facial recognition, data protection, algorithmic bias, and the responsibilities of organizations that develop and operate AI systems. By the end of the course, students will develop critical thinking, evidence evaluation, ethical reasoning, stakeholder analysis, and responsible decision-making skills. They will be able to question automated decisions, recognize potential risks, construct evidence-based arguments, and explain why human oversight and accountability are essential for responsible AI governance.

By completing this course, learners will be able to:

• Identify personal and biometric data and explain how AI systems collect, process, and use them.
• Distinguish between facial verification and identification and recognize potential system errors.
• Evaluate AI model reliability by considering data quality, representativeness, testing, and algorithmic bias.
• Identify stakeholders and assess how AI decisions may affect different individuals and groups.
• Construct evidence-based ethical arguments, consider counterarguments, and compare alternative solutions.
• Explain the roles of human oversight, accountability, audits, monitoring, and appeals in responsible AI governance.

Recommended Skills Prior to Taking This Course

No advanced technical knowledge or programming skills are required. Learners should have:

• Basic digital literacy and confidence using computers and the internet;
• A general understanding of how digital technologies and online services are used in everyday life;
• Basic reading comprehension and the ability to understand informational texts;
• An interest in artificial intelligence, technology, privacy, and digital rights;
• A willingness to think critically, discuss ethical questions, and consider different perspectives.

The course is suitable for learners aged 14 and above. Curiosity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to explore complex ethical questions are encouraged.