💻 TechnologyLevel 1Lesson 8
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Talk About How Humans Control Technology

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Explain that humans are always in control of technology
  • 2Decide when and how it is used
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Mini Lesson

Did you know that every machine you use has a boss — and that boss is always a human?

Humans make the decisions

  • A human decides when to turn technology on and when to turn it off.
  • Example: You press the button to start the tablet — the tablet does not start by itself.
  • You also choose what to do with it: watch a video, play a game, or draw a picture.

Machines follow instructions

  • A machine only does what it has been told to do by a human.
  • Without instructions, a machine sits still and waits.

Humans keep technology safe

  • People decide if technology is being used kindly and for a good reason.
  • If something goes wrong, a human can always switch the machine off.
Human in control of a tabletA child's hand pressing the power button on a tablet. An arrow points from the hand to the button, labeled "Human decides". The tablet screen shows a star to indicate it is turning on.*Human decides!
A child pressing the power button on a tablet — the human is always the one who starts the machine.
Human giving instructions to a robotA stick figure person on the left with a speech bubble saying "Go clean!" and an arrow pointing right to a simple robot on the right. Below the robot is the label "Machine does the job".Go clean!Machine doesthe job
A person tells a robot "Go clean!" — the human gives the order and the machine carries it out.
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Ask yourself: "Who decided to start this machine? Can the machine make choices on its own? Who turns it off?

Vocabulary
Control
To choose what something does and when it does ite.g. Humans control technology by pressing buttons.
Human
A person, like you and mee.g. A human always decides if a machine is being used kindly.
Decide
To make a choicee.g. I decide when to turn the tablet on or off.
Instructions
Steps that tell a machine or person what to doe.g. The robot only follows instructions a human gives it.
Power button
The button you press to turn a device on or offe.g. I tapped the power button to start the laptop.
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← Lesson 7: Draw a Picture of a Smart Helper MachineLesson 9: Turn Devices On and Off Safely →