Moxon’s Master
Here is a plan for face–to-face teaching of the story, Moxon’s Master written by Ambrose Bierce, at the level, Senior Secondary and above, within three hours in three days.
Objectives of teaching the story;
1. Students enjoy reading of the events and characters of the short story.
2. They discuss the threat of the robots or automatic machines become uncontrollable.
3. They appreciate Ambrose Bierce, the author as a writer who was much ahead of his time.
Facilities and materials required for the three classes;
· Print-out of the story/Textbook
· Computer/LCD projector
· Internet connectivity
· Black Board/blank chart, chalk and marker pens
Day One
The poem ‘Science’ written by Robinson Jeffers says about the threat of robots and huge machines used by modern man.
Bigot giants, hybrids and knives are the terms he uses to denote the machines which were created by men.
Imagine an automatic machine or robot goes unmanageable or uncontrolled.
If it becomes aggressive or revengeful, what would be the consequences?
Read one news that came on 02 July 2015. (10 mts)
Students read the news on the monitor.
( Courtsey to: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11712513/Robot-kills-man-at-Volkswagen-plant-in-Germany.html accessed on 16/11/2016)
The accident happened at one of Volkswagen's production plants in Germany Photo: DPA/Alamy
Robot kills man at Volkswagen plant in Germany
A 22-year-old worker was grabbed by the robot and crushed against a metal plate
By Justin Huggler, Berlin
1:56PM BST 02 Jul 2015
The 22-year-old worker died from injuries he sustained when he was trapped by a robotic arm and crushed against a metal plate.
The man, who has not been named, was part of a team that was setting up the automated machinery at the factory in Kassel, north of Frankfurt, according to Volkswagen.
The robot in question is a mechanical arm that moves car parts into place, said Heiko Hillwig, a spokesman for the company.
It is part of an automated assembly line that is capable of functioning without a human operator, but it is believed it may have been under human control at the time of the accident.
Mr Hillwig said he could not provide any further details as the case is now under police investigation.
Initial reports suggested human error may have been to blame, rather than a problem with the machine.
But the state prosecutor’s office in Kassel said that had not yet been confirmed.
“We have begun an investigation to find out exactly what happened and to determine whether anybody was at fault,” said Dr Götz Wied, a spokesman.
The contractor is believed to have died from injuries caused when his chest was crushed by the robot arm. He was rushed to hospital but doctors were unable to save him.
Another contractor is believed to have been present at the time of the accident, but was uninjured.
“Earlier this week a 22-year-old contractor was injured while installing some machinery in the Kassel factory,” Volkswagen said in a statement.
“He died later in hospital from his injuries and our thoughts are with his family.
“We are if course carrying out a thorough investigation into the incident and cannot comment further at this time.”
Robots have caused at least 26 workplace deaths in the US alone in the past 30 years, according to government data.
The first recorded robot-related death took place in 1971, at a Ford car production line in Michigan.
Robert Williams, an assembly line worker, was killed when a robot arm slammed into him as he was gathering parts in a storage facility.
The second known case was in Japan in 1981, when Kenji Urada, an engineer at a Kawasaki factory, was pushed into a grinding machine by a broken robot he was working on.
It later emerged he had failed to turn off the robot completely. (10 mts)
Didn’t you read the news?
If this is news from Germany, read another story from India.
(Courtsey to; http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/robot-kills-a-man-in-haryana-s-manesar-factory-53678.html accessed on 16/11/2016)
Robot kills a man in Haryana's Manesar factory
India TV News Desk [Updated:13 Aug 2015, 7:13:39]
Gurgaon: A 23-year-old employee of a factory in Manesar near Gurgaon died on Wednesday after receiving an electric shock when he came in contact with a robot, police said.
The victim who was at work in the welding unit with special-purpose machines and robotic welding lines, had apparently moved too close to the robot while adjusting a metal sheet that had come unstuck.
"G. Ram was working in the robot area of the SKH Metals factory when he accidentally came in contact with a robot and received an electric shock," said Kuldeep Janghu, secretary general of Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union.
The factory, located in the Tau Devi Lal Industrial Model Township in Manesar, deals with the steel requirements of automotive industries.
G. Ram, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was a contractual worker employed in the factory for nearly two years.
He was rushed to a hospital in Manesar but was declared dead by doctors.
"The company management and the contractor have been booked on charges of causing death due to negligence," Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajesh Kuwar told IANS. (10 mts)
What do you understand from the second news?
There also the robot becomes uncontrollable.
These are stories no more, they are events reported from two different countries.
Though these are unheard, such events were foreseen by the writer, Ambrose Bierce, at least a century before. (5 mts)
Shall we read the story in its full form in your textbook, pages 3-6?
Students read the story in the classroom.
They read the glossary/dictionary or ask others for the meaning of
the new words.
Or they read the story as a home task. (30 mts)
the new words.
Or they read the story as a home task. (30 mts)
Day Two
Didn’t you read the story yesterday?
Let someone say the summary of the story.
One or two say the story.
Shall I show you a summary that I got from a source? Read it;
They read from the screen or monitor. (10 mts)
accessed on 14/11/2016)
|
An inventor and his friend debate the definitions of life and
intelligence. The scientist speculates as to whether a man—or plants, or atoms—can be thought to “think,” by virtue of some aspect of their movement (e.g., plant roots) or the ability to “co-operate” into self-organization (e.g., crystals). The inventor claims that “consciousness is the creature of Rhythm.” The narrator returns to find the inventor playing chess with what is later revealed to be an automaton (robot). The monster moves uncannily, with gestures that “looks theatrical.” The friend is repulsed by the thought that the scientist is now consorting with monsters. At the conclusion, the inventor wins the chess game and is killed by the infuriated automaton. |
You made an attempt to read the story as well as the summary, didn’t you?
Can you write the events of the story in a sequence?
Look at the list. These are certain events of the story.
Can you write the events of the story in a sequence?
Look at the list. These are certain events of the story.
Write the remaining events by reading the textbook once again. (20 mts)
|
• The narrator asks Moxon whether a machine can think.
• Moxon defines ‘What is a machine?’ • ……………………………… • The narrator debates with Moxon. • …………………………….. • …………………………….. • …………………………….. • …………………………….. • ……………………………... • Moxon returns from his ‘machine shop’. • The narrator notices the skin is torn showing blood on the cheek of Moxon. • Moxon defines Life. • The narrator returns home that day. • ………………………………………….. • ………………………………………….. • ………………………………………….. • Next night the narrator notices that Moxon plays chess with ‘someone.’ • The narrator understood the antagonist was a machine (automation) • ………………………………………… • ……………………………………….. • The machine became furious, overturned the table, and candle. • ……………………………………….. • ……………………………………….. • Moxon was flattened by the machine. • Seeing the scene of Moxon’s murder the narrator fainted down. • When the narrator came back after three days’ hospitalization, Haley, the confidential workman told that Moxon’ body had been buried. • The narrator thanks Haley for saving him from the attack of the machine. |
They make an attempt to fill in the blanks (12 nos) individually and
after that, they compare their list with that of others.
after that, they compare their list with that of others.
When they dictate the teacher writes the events, thus a common list of events is made. (30 mts)
Day Three
Teacher writes the statement on the Board;
‘Moxon’s Master is a story about the threats that humans encounter
when they create robots or superior machines. ‘
when they create robots or superior machines. ‘
Is there any threat like that?
What’s your view?
Examine the statement on the background of the story ‘Moxon’s Master’.
Ambrose Bierce was a writer with prophetic views on the mishap created
by automation of machines. Wasn’t he?
What are your suggestions for checking the menace of the mishap
created by automation? (10 mts)
created by automation? (10 mts)
Two or three speak.
The story is rich with dramatic moments/twists.
The story is rich with dramatic moments/twists.
Explain any one and write why you do like that event. (20 mts)
Moxon’s Master is one of the first robot stories in world literature.
Have you heard about any other stories in which the robot or machine is a character?
They say two or three stories.
Have you heard of any film dealing the theme of the story, Moxon’s Master?
What crucial question does the writer ask the readers through the story?
a) The machine has no flesh and blood. But man has. What makes the man emotional or sensational to the environment?
b) If becomes uncontrollable or unmanageable, who is more aggressive, man or machine? (30 mts)
Assessment task
Read the following news came on 2 December 2014.
( Courtesy to: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30290540 accessed on 18/11/2016)
Media caption Stephen Hawking: "Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete and would be superseded"
Prof Stephen Hawking, one of Britain's pre-eminent scientists, has said that efforts to create thinking machines pose a threat to our very existence.
He told the BBC:"The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race."
His warning came in response to a question about a revamp of the technology he uses to communicate, which involves a basic form of AI.
But others are less gloomy about AI's prospects.
The theoretical physicist, who has the motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is using a new system developed by Intel to speak.
Machine learning experts from the British company Swiftkey were also involved in its creation. Their technology, already employed as a smartphone keyboard app, learns how the professor thinks and suggests the words he might want to use next.
Prof Hawking says the primitive forms of artificial intelligence developed so far have already proved very useful, but he fears the consequences of creating something that can match or surpass humans.
What does Prof Hawking warn?
He has warned that machines that function on artificial intelligence will have own decisions and desires. Hawking expresses his concern that how far the thinking pattern of the machines would match with human intelligence.
If so what peril is awaited from these machines in the future, including industry and economy of nations?
