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The Ethics of AI & Synthetic Media

Twelfth graders grapple with the ethics of AI-made “synthetic media” — from deepfakes to AI text and images. They learn the guardrails that matter: disclosure (labeling AI content), consent (permission for a likeness), and provenance (a record of how content was made).

Grade 12AI & Synthetic Media Ethics55 minutes1 class periodMedia Literacy · CCSSExplicit teaching4 StandardsCCSS / NAMLE
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define synthetic media.
  • ✓Know the ethical guardrails.
  • ✓Match terms to meanings.
  • ✓Use AI responsibly.
Essential Question

AI can now create realistic media of anyone saying anything. What ethical rules should guide its use?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Term to Its Meaning

Project this and match each AI-media term to its meaning — tap the term, then tap the meaning.

🤖 Match each term to its meaningTry it
Term
Meaning
Now tap the meaning!
The Lesson · Literacy Flow (Hook · Explore · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — AI Can Make Anything

6 min

AI can create realistic media of anyone — what ethical rules should guide it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a realistic AI clip.
  • Ask what could go wrong.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — AI & Synthetic Media Ethics

13 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Term.
  • Match each one.
  • Note the guardrails.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain synthetic media.
  • Explain disclosure.
  • Explain consent.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain.
  • Explain.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

15 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Judge an AI-media scenario.
  • Apply the guardrails.
  • Share your view.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Judge.
  • Apply.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Define synthetic media.
  • Name a guardrail.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Name it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core ELA Standards (informational literacy) & NAMLE media-literacy competencies.

CCSS
RI.11-12.6

Analyze purpose & rhetoric.

CCSS
SL.11-12.2

Evaluate media & sources.

NAMLE
Evaluate

Assess AI-media ethics.

CCSS
RI.11-12.7

Integrate & evaluate media.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Term cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ means ___.”
  • Use examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with deepfake & disclosure.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Use examples.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Debate an AI-media case.
  • Write an AI-use policy.
  • Explain provenance tools.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🤖Term cards
  • 💻Match the Term
  • 📚AI-ethics resources
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

synthetic mediaAI-created or altered contentdeepfakeAI fake of a real personAIartificial intelligencedisclosurelabeling AI contentconsentpermission to use a likenessprovenancea record of originauthenticitybeing genuineethicsright & wrong in action
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is synthetic media?
Content created or altered by AI — text, images, audio, or video.
QUESTION 2
What is disclosure in AI media?
Clearly marking when content is AI-generated.
QUESTION 3
Why does consent matter for deepfakes?
People should give permission before their likeness or voice is used.

Reflect: AI & synthetic media ethics.

Have students name two ethical guardrails for creating AI media (like disclosure and consent). A printable AI-ethics sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 The Ethics of AI & Synthetic MediaFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 The Ethics of AI & Synthetic MediaQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ The Ethics of AI & Synthetic MediaPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: AI, authenticity, consent, deepfake, disclosure, ethics, provenance, synthetic media
  1. AI-created or altered content
  2. AI fake of a real person
  3. a record of origin
  4. being genuine
  5. labeling AI content
  6. artificial intelligence
  7. right & wrong in action
  8. permission to use a likeness

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is synthetic media?
  2. What is disclosure in AI media?
  3. Why does consent matter for deepfakes?
Answer key — Part A: 1) synthetic media · 2) deepfake · 3) provenance · 4) authenticity · 5) disclosure · 6) AI · 7) ethics · 8) consent
Part B: 1) Content created or altered by AI — text, images, audio, or video. 2) Clearly marking when content is AI-generated. 3) People should give permission before their likeness or voice is used.