A bus company in the UK is using smart computer programs to fix a problem where buses arrive at the same time instead of being spread out. They are changing their bus schedules more often using this program, which looks at things like traffic. This new way has made buses arrive on time 20% more often when it's very busy. The company wants to use this smart program for all their 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 boss of the company says they also have to think about when to charge electric buses and how to move buses in and out of the places where they are kept. All around the world, other companies are starting to use smart programs to make bus and minibus routes better.
But, experts say it's very important that the bus schedules are right and easy for people to understand. A group that wants better bus service says the schedules should be good for the people who use them. Another group that watches over transport says that bus companies need to tell people well if there are any changes.
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 key vocabulary words from the article on separate slips of paper and put them in a bowl. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and pick a slip of paper. Without speaking, they must act out the word or phrase for their team to guess. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Continue until all the slips of paper have been used, and the team with the most points wins.
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. After each summary, the partner will provide feedback and ask questions to ensure understanding. Then, the roles will switch and the other student will summarize the article. Encourage students to use their own words and focus on the key information.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will come up with three statements related to the article, such as "Using smart programs to improve bus schedules is a good idea." Each student in the group will then rate their agreement with each statement on a scale of 1-5 (1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree). After everyone has rated the statements, each group will share their results and discuss their reasons for their ratings.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article on the board or on separate slips of paper. Divide the class into pairs. One student will select a word and draw a picture to represent it, while their partner tries to guess the word. The pair will switch roles after each word. Encourage students to use their imagination and creativity to represent the words visually.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns making predictions about the future of bus scheduling based on the information in the article. They should consider the potential benefits and challenges of using smart programs, as well as any other factors they think may impact bus schedules in the future. After each prediction, the partner can provide feedback and ask follow-up questions for clarification.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A bus in the UK is using smart computer s to fix a where buses arrive at the same time instead of being spread out. They are changing their bus schedules more often using this program, which looks at things like traffic. This new way has made buses arrive on time 20% more often when it's very busy. The company wants to use this smart program for all their in the UK. The smart program comes from a company in . It learns from lots of information, like where the buses are and when people buy . The boss of the company says they also have to think about when to charge buses and how to move buses in and out of the places where they are kept. All around the world, other companies are starting to use smart to make bus and minibus better. But, experts say it's very important that the bus schedules are right and easy for people to understand. A group that better bus service the schedules should be good for the people who use them. Another group that over transport says that bus companies need to tell people well if there are any changes.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a smart computer program?
2. How would you feel if the buses always arrived at the same time?
3. Do you like the idea of changing bus schedules more often? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about using smart programs to make bus routes better?
5. How do you think the smart program learns from lots of information?
6. Do you think it's important for bus schedules to be easy for people to understand? Why or why not?
7. What do you think about the idea of charging electric buses at certain times?
8. How do you think the bus company can move buses in and out of the places where they are kept?
9. Do you think it's important for bus companies to inform people about any changes in the schedules? Why or why not?
10. What is one thing you would change about the bus service in your city?
11. How do you think smart programs can improve transportation in general?
12. Have you ever used a smart program for anything? If so, what was it and how did it help you?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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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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