Robots, humans and consciousness
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can consider what we might mean by consciousness and whether it could exist in robots
Key learning points
- Artificial things are human‑made materials and processes, like dyes, fragrances, rubber and artificial pollination.
- Robots are artificial beings used in homes, workplaces, medicine and social settings.
- Klara and the Sun raises questions about whether a robot could have consciousness.
- Consciousness includes awareness, interpretation, reflection, understanding others and making decisions.
- Debates about robot consciousness focus on whether human‑like behaviour shows real awareness or programmed actions.
Keywords
Artificial - made by humans rather than produced naturally
Consciousness - the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, thoughts and surroundings
Robot - an artificial being that can perform tasks automatically, sometimes designed to act or respond like a human or animal
Common misconception
Consciousness is something you can see or measure directly.
Consciousness cannot be observed directly because it is a private, subjective experience. We can only infer it from behaviour, communication or responses, but we cannot know for certain what another being experiences.
Teacher tip
Read extracts from "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro with students. It has also been adapted into a film directed by Taika Waititi and is due for release, playing the trailer could be a useful way to introduce the novel.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is part of being a person?
Q2.AI can give correct answers without truly .
Q3.What does functionalism focus on?
Q4.Functionalism suggests AI could have .
Q5.According to dualism, who can be a person?
Q6.The Chinese Room argues that behaviour alone does not prove a exists.
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each keyword to its meaning:
made by humans rather than produced naturally
the ability to think about one's existence, thoughts and surroundings
an artificial being, sometimes designed to act or respond like a human
Q2.Which of the following is artificial?
Q3.Robots are programmed to complete specific .
Q4.What key question does Klara and the Sun explore?
Q5.Human-like behaviour does not always show real .
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Robots, humans and consciousness, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Robots, humans and consciousness, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Personhood: what might be the people of the future? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.