We all live with computers鈥 but getting the most out of them鈥 getting them to do what you need鈥 can be kind of difficult.
But if you can understand how they process things, a computer can be the most useful housemate you鈥檒l ever have.
The world wide web is full of amazing information. But it comes from all kinds of sources and all kinds of people. Some are more reliable than others.
Ada:
What鈥檚 the weather like today?.. Great!
Voice over:
Sometimes鈥.they just get things plain wrong!
Ada:
Typical!
Voice over:
Which means you can鈥檛 trust everything you read on the World Wide Web!
Ada:
Ah, there鈥檚 nothing to eat.
Voice over:
Computers and the internet are pretty good at helping you find things you need, how to make things and, if you鈥檙e careful, making good decisions about what to buy.
When seeking reviews or opinions you need to be careful!
Man on computer:
I took my wife, Marjorie, to Fred鈥檚 Fried Fish takeaway - the food was absolutely fantastic!
Voice over:
When you鈥檙e looking for reviews online, you need to watch out for bias.
Wife:
Fred? You need to put some chips on!
Man on computer:
Can鈥檛 you see I鈥檓 busy! I鈥檓 on the computer writing our review.
Ada:
Next.
Voice over:
Biased information is when someone has their own reasons for saying something. Like it鈥檚 their restaurant! You also have to make sure you know the difference between opinions and facts.
Woman on computer:
I went to Take Mai Thai on the high street last night. And I have to say the dishes were all way too spicy! Then again, I don鈥檛 really like spicy food so I don鈥檛 know why I went.
Voice over:
If it鈥檚 just someone鈥檚 opinion, you may want to ignore it as you may think differently!
Teenager:
I got some takeout from 鈥淓at my Sombrero鈥 last week and the food was totally rad.
Voice over:
You also have to watch out that the review or website is up to date!
Teenager:
Best place I鈥檝e been to in 2005!
Voice over:
Information that is out of date can鈥檛 be relied on. If information can鈥檛 be trusted then look for more sources before making any important decisions.
Delivery man:
Take Mae Thai - food delivery.
Voice over:
Opinions and reviews on the internet can be useful. But only if they鈥檙e reliable. If they鈥檙e not up to date, unbiased or from a source you can trust鈥 Then you may get a nasty surprise.
Bias and reliability - just because it鈥檚 on the web, doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 true.
Video summary
The concept of Bias is explained through everyday activities.
A teenage girl Ada asks her friend CH (Computer Head) an everyday question which is open to Bias.
She then looks at the results obtained from Search engines and how some sites can be biased.
This clip is from the series How to Think Like a Computer.
Teacher Notes
You could use this clip to discuss what we can look for when using the web/internet to find out if sites are reliable, for example, copyright, up to date information, verifiable on other reliable sources etc. This could also be a way of discussing false information that is without evidence.
Discuss the contributions of women in IT, such as Ada Lovelace, as the main character is called Ada.
This clip will be relevant for teaching Computer Science at KS3 and KS4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4 and 5 in Scotland.
What is decomposition? video
A teenage programmer discovers how decomposition works through trial and error.
Checking your algorithm. video
A teenage programmer tests a set of instructions she has written to get her computer to mop the floor.
Bias & Reliability. video
A teenage programmer (Ada) asks her computer friend an everyday question to test any bias from the search results offered.
