Crowdsourcing

Summary

IOC-1.A.1
IOC-1.A.2
IOC-1.A.3
IOC-1.A.4
IOC-1.A.5
IOC-1.B.1
IOC-1.B.2
IOC-1.B.3
IOC-1.B.4
IOC-1.B.5
IOC-1.B.6
IOC-1.E.1 Widespread access to information and public data facilitates the identification of problems, development of solutions, and dissemination of results. IOC-1.E.2 Science has been affected by using distributed and "citizen science" to solve scientific problems.
IOC-1.E.3 Citizen science is scientific research conducted in whole or part by distributed individuals, many of whom may not be scientists; who contribute relevant data to research using their own computing devices.
IOC-1.E.4 Crowdsourcing is the practice of obtaining input or information from a large number of people via the Internet.
IOC-1.E.5 Human capabilities can be enhanced by collaboration via computing.
IOC-1.E.6 Crowdsourcing offers new models for collaboration, such as connecting businesses or social causes with funding.
IOC-2.B.9
CSN-2.A.3
CSN-2.B.3
CSN-2.B.4

Define crowdsourcing.
Ask students to read The Scientist in Us All (or read it out loud as a class).
Discuss key concepts in the article about Crowdsourcing:
- What are the benefits?
- How is this different than the Folding at Home program we learned about when we discussed parallel and distributed computing? How is it similar?

Divide students into four groups.
You can use the Group Generator program to randomly sort students.
Assign each group on of the four cutting edge scientific puzzles:
Give students time to review the site as a team.
Task them with taking notes on what the puzzle(s) are trying to solve and be ready to share with the other groups.