A bus company in the UK is using a smart computer program to make sure buses come on time. This program looks at things like traffic to plan bus schedules better. Buses are now on time more often, especially when it's busy. The company wants to use this smart program for all its buses in the UK.
The smart program comes from a company in London. It learns from lots of information, like where the buses are and when people buy tickets. The man in charge of the London company says they also think about when electric buses need to charge. All around the world, more bus companies are using smart programs to help buses run better. But it's also important that people know the right times for the buses. Two groups say bus companies must tell people when bus times change.
Original news source: How AI is helping to prevent three buses turning up at once (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down key words from the article (e.g. bus, traffic, schedules) on separate pieces of paper and put them in a hat. One student from each team will come up and pick a word from the hat without looking. They must then act out the word without speaking, while their team tries to guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point.
– News Summary
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. In pairs, they must take turns summarizing the article to their partner, using their own words. Encourage them to include the main points and key details. After they've finished, they can discuss any questions or thoughts they have about the article.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write down key words from the article on the board (e.g. bus, traffic, schedules). Go around the class and have each student say a word that they associate with one of the key words. For example, if the key word is "bus", a student might say "public transportation". Encourage them to explain their associations if necessary.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper and put them in a hat. Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group will come up and pick a word from the hat without looking. They must then draw a picture to represent the word, while their group tries to guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of smart programs in bus companies. They can use the information from the article and their own ideas. After they've finished, encourage them to share their predictions with the class and have a discussion about the possibilities and potential benefits of smart programs in the transportation industry.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The smart computer program is used to make sure buses come on time.
The smart program looks at things like traffic to plan bus schedules better, so the buses can be on time more often.
The smart program comes from a company in London.
The smart program learns from lots of information, like where the buses are and when people buy tickets.
It's important for bus companies to tell people when bus times change so that people know the right times for the buses.
Bus companies also think about when electric buses need to charge when using the smart program.
Yes, more bus companies around the world are using smart programs to help buses run better.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A bus company in the UK is using a smart computer program to make sure come on time. This program looks at things like traffic to bus schedules better. Buses are now on time more often, especially when it's busy. The company wants to use this smart program for all its buses in the UK. The smart program comes from a company in . It learns from of information, like where the buses are and when people buy tickets. The man in charge of the London company says they also think about when electric buses to charge. All around the , more bus companies are smart programs to help buses run better. But it's also important that people know the right times for the buses. Two say bus companies must tell people when bus times change.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a smart computer program?
2. How would you feel if the buses were always late?
3. Do you like the idea of using a smart program to plan bus schedules? Why or why not?
4. What is something that the smart program learns from?
5. How do you think the smart program helps buses run better?
6. Do you think it's important for bus companies to tell people when bus times change? Why or why not?
7. What is an electric bus?
8. Have you ever seen an electric bus before? Where?
9. How do you think the smart program helps electric buses?
10. What are some things that the smart program looks at to plan bus schedules better?
11. How do you think the smart program knows when people buy tickets?
12. Would you like to ride on a bus that uses a smart program? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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