6.10. Impacts of CS Crowdsourcing with Citizen Science Apps

This lesson explores a computing innovation, citizen science apps, which use crowdsourcing to solve science problems. This lesson also gives students an opportunity to practice analyzing a computing innovation for its purpose, the data it uses and produces, and potential beneficial and harmful effects.

CSP Framework
Big Idea 5: Impact of Computing (IOC)
Enduring Understanding IOC-1: While computing innovations are typically designed to achieve a specific purpose, they may have unintended consequences.
Learning Objective IOC-1.E: Explain how people participate in problem-solving processes at scale.
Skill 1.C IOC-1.E.1 IOC-1.E.2 IOC-1.E.3 IOC-1.E.4 IOC-1.E.5 IOC-1.E.6 Essential Knowledge IOC-1.E.1: Widespread access to information and public data facilitates the identification of problems, development of solutions, and dissemination of results. Essential Knowledge IOC-1.E.2: Science has been affected by using distributed and citizen science to solve scientific problems. Essential Knowledge 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. Essential Knowledge IOC-1.E.4: Crowdsourcing is the practice of obtaining input or information from a large number of people via the Internet. Essential Knowledge IOC-1.E.5: Human capabilities can be enhanced by collaboration via computing. Essential Knowledge IOC-1.E.6: Crowdsourcing offers new models for collaboration, such as connecting businesses or social causes with funding.
Learning Objective IOC-1.F: Explain how the use of computing can raise legal and ethical concerns.
Skill 5.E IOC-1.F.11 Essential Knowledge IOC-1.F.11: Computing innovations can raise legal and ethical concerns. Some examples of these include: - the development of software that allows access to digital media downloads and streaming - the development of algorithms that include bias - the existence of computing devices that collect and analyze data by continuously monitoring activities
Enduring Understanding IOC-2: The use of computing innovations may involve risks to your personal safety and identity.
Learning Objective IOC-2.A: Describe the risks to privacy from collecting and storing personal data on a computer system.
Skill 5.D IOC-2.A.5 Essential Knowledge IOC-2.A.5: Technology enables the collection, use, and exploitation of information about, by, and for individuals, groups, and institutions.
Learning Objective IOC-2.B: Explain how computing resources can be protected and can be misused.
Skill 5.E IOC-2.B.5 IOC-2.B.7 IOC-2.B.8 IOC-2.B.9 Essential Knowledge IOC-2.B.5: Encryption is the process of encoding data to prevent unauthorized access. Decryption is the process of decoding the data. Two common encryption approaches are: - Symmetric key encryption involves one key for both encryption and decryption. - Public key encryption pairs a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. The sender does not need the receiver’s private key to encrypt a message, but the receiver’s private key is required to decrypt the message. Exclusion Statement (EK IOC-2.B.5): Specific mathematical procedures for encryption and decryption are beyond the scope of this course and the AP Exam. Essential Knowledge IOC-2.B.7: Computer virus and malware scanning software can help protect a computing system against infection. Essential Knowledge IOC-2.B.8: A computer virus is a malicious program that can copy itself and gain access to a computer in an unauthorized way. Computer viruses often attach themselves to legitimate programs and start running independently on a computer. Essential Knowledge IOC-2.B.9: Malware is software intended to damage a computing system or to take partial control over its operation.
Learning Objective IOC-2.C: Explain how unauthorized access to computing resources is gained.
Skill 5.E IOC-2.C.1 Essential Knowledge IOC-2.C.1: Phishing is a technique that attempts to trick a user into providing personal information. That personal information can then be used to access sensitive online resources, such as bank accounts and emails.

Professional Development

The Student Lesson: Complete the activities for Mobile CSP Unit 6: Lesson 6.10 Impacts of CS: Crowdsourcing with Citizen Science Apps.

Materials

• Projection system to show PBS video on citizen science apps

6.10.1. Learning Activities

Estimated Length: 90 minutes

• Hook/Motivation: (5 minutes): Ask students if anyone can explain how projects are funded through Kickstarter or other crowdfunding apps. Explain that crowdfunding is a type of crowdsourcing where many people contribute to fund a project. In computing, crowdsourcing relies on the many people collaborating to help solve a problem, contribute resources (such as computer processing time), or disseminate results. Citizen science apps are one example of using the power of crowdsourcing to solve science problems using mobile apps.
• Experiences and Exploration (15-60 minutes): Watch Episode 1 of The Crowd and the Cloud. If you do not have time to watch the entire hour-long episode, then focus on the OpenStreetMap [16:55-28:30] and EyesOnALZ [28:30-41:57] segments.
• Experiences and Exploration (30 minutes): Students can work individually or in pairs to select an app from the Join a Project page and answer the questions on purpose, data, and effects. Students should discuss the answers to their questions with another student or pair of students.
• Reflect and Revise (5 minutes): Ask students to record their answers in their portfolios.

AP Classroom

The College Board's AP Classroom provides a question bank and Topic Questions. You may create a formative assessment quiz in AP Classroom, assign the quiz (a set of questions), and then review the results in class to identify and address any student misunderstandings.The following are suggested topic questions that you could assign once students have completed this lesson.

Suggested Topic Questions:

Assessment Opportunities and Solutions

Solutions Note: Solutions are only available to verified educators who have joined the Teaching Mobile CSP Google group/forum in Unit 1.

• Quizly Solutions
• Portfolio Reflection Questions Solutions

Teaching Tips: Connections to Current News

• You may wish to look for contemporary news articles on encryption and cryptography. A collection of articles related to Mobile CSP is available at diigo.com/user/mobilecsp
• You may wish to have students find information about encryption and cryptography to share with the class.

6.10.2. Professional Development Reflection

Discuss the following questions with other teachers in your professional development program.

• How does this lesson help prepare students for the scenario-based questions about computing innovations in the exam?

I am confident I can teach this lesson to my students.
• 1. Strongly Agree
• 2. Agree
• 3. Neutral
• 4. Disagree
• 5. Strongly Disagree