This lesson plan sets out how journalists can use artificial intelligence (AI) in investigative journalism.
It is based on the article ‘AI and investigative journalism‘ which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.
Learning objective
Students will evaluate the effectiveness of AI tools in enhancing investigative journalism by analysing case studies and identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies in datasets. They will also assess the ethical implications of AI usage in journalism, ensuring transparency and human oversight.
- Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson the student will be able to evaluate how AI tools can improve investigative journalism and understand the ethical considerations involved.
- Standards: Students will learn ways in which they can use artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool when producing a piece of investigative journalism.
Learning activities
Warm-up
- Display a short video clip or image related to investigative journalism, such as a news report or a scene from a documentary.
- Ask students: “What do you notice? What do you wonder?”
- Give them a few minutes to think and jot down their observations and questions.
- Then, have them share with a partner.
- Select a few students to share their thoughts with the class, recording key points.
- Guide the discussion towards the role of technology and data in journalism, setting the stage for exploring AI’s impact.
Direct instruction
- Introduction to AI in investigative journalism:
- Begin with a brief overview of how AI is transforming investigative journalism.
- Highlight key areas such as data analysis, pattern recognition, and efficiency enhancement.
- Use examples, like AI uncovering financial fraud through transaction analysis, to illustrate these points.
- Data analysis and pattern recognition:
- Explain how AI algorithms sift through large datasets to identify patterns and anomalies.
- Provide a scenario where students analyse a simplified dataset of financial transactions to spot potential fraud.
- Guide them through the process, emphasising AI’s role in identifying connections that are difficult for humans to detect manually.
- Ethical considerations and human oversight:
- Discuss the importance of ethical considerations in using AI for journalism.
- Highlight the need for transparency and human oversight.
- Present a case study where AI was used in reporting, and ask students to evaluate the ethical implications.
- Encourage them to consider how journalists can maintain ethical standards while leveraging AI tools.
Guided practice
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a collaborative analysis of AI’s role in investigative journalism.
- Think: Present a dataset related to a recent investigative journalism case. Ask students to individually identify patterns, trends, or anomalies using AI tools.
- Pair: Have students pair up to discuss their findings. Encourage them to compare insights and refine their understanding of AI’s capabilities.
- Share: Facilitate a class discussion where pairs share their observations. Highlight diverse perspectives and insights.
- Connect: Relate findings to real-world applications of AI in journalism. Discuss how AI enhances efficiency and accuracy.
- Reflect: Prompt students to consider ethical implications and the importance of human oversight in AI-assisted journalism.
Independent practice
- Dataset analysis:
- Provide students with a dataset related to a current investigative journalism topic.
- Instruct them to use AI tools to identify patterns, trends, or anomalies.
- Encourage them to document their findings and reflect on AI’s role in enhancing their analysis.
- Case study evaluation:
- Assign a case study where AI was used in investigative journalism.
- Have students evaluate the effectiveness of AI tools in the investigation, focusing on data analysis, pattern recognition, and ethical considerations.
- Reflection:
- Ask students to write a brief reflection on how AI can transform investigative journalism.
- Encourage them to consider both the benefits and ethical challenges.
Assignment
Ask students these questions:
- How can AI assist journalists in identifying patterns and anomalies in large datasets?
- What are some ethical considerations journalists must keep in mind when using AI tools?
- What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?
Suggested answers:
- Suggested answer to Question 1: AI can analyse vast amounts of data quickly, identifying patterns and anomalies that might be missed by humans.
- Suggested answer to Question 2: Journalists must ensure transparency, maintain human oversight, and consider the ethical implications of AI use.
Teacher resources
Differentiation guide
- Advanced learners:
- Encourage deeper exploration of AI’s role in investigative journalism by assigning additional case studies.
- Challenge them to critique AI’s limitations and propose solutions.
- Facilitate discussions on the future of AI in journalism and its potential impact on media ethics.
- Striving learners:
- Simplify datasets and provide step-by-step guidance in using AI tools.
- Use visual aids to illustrate AI processes.
- Pair them with peers for collaborative learning.
- Offer additional support in understanding ethical considerations, using real-world examples to clarify concepts.
- Recommended reading:
- This lesson plan is based on the article ‘AI and investigative journalism‘ which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.
Notable definitions
- Artificial intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems, to perform tasks such as data analysis, pattern recognition, and decision-making in journalism.
- Pattern recognition: The ability of AI systems to identify regularities and trends within large datasets, which can help journalists uncover hidden stories or anomalies.
- Deepfake: A synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness, often used to spread misinformation, which AI tools can help detect.
Required materials
- Computers: For accessing AI tools and datasets.
- Internet access: To retrieve datasets and case studies.
- AI software/tools: For data analysis and pattern recognition.
- Projector: To display video clips or images.
- Printed datasets: Simplified versions for manual analysis.
- Notebooks: For students to jot down observations and reflections.
Lesson summary
- Warm-up
- Direct instruction
- Guided practice
- Independent practice
- Assignment
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
