Glossary
Citizen Science
Scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur or nonprofessional scientists, often by collecting and analyzing data.
Example:
Through a Citizen Science project, thousands of people used a mobile app to report sightings of invasive plant species in their local parks, helping botanists track their spread.
Collaboration
The act of working with someone to produce or create something, often facilitated by digital tools and networks.
Example:
A group of students used online document sharing to achieve seamless collaboration on their AP CSP Create Performance Task, allowing everyone to contribute simultaneously.
Crowdfunding
The practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet.
Example:
An aspiring game developer used a crowdfunding platform to raise money for their indie game, allowing fans to pre-order copies and contribute to its development.
Crowdsourcing
Obtaining input, information, or tasks from a large, undefined group of people, typically via the internet.
Example:
A startup used crowdsourcing to gather ideas for a new app feature, inviting users to submit and vote on suggestions, leading to a highly popular update.
Data
Information, especially facts or numbers, collected to be examined and considered, often used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation.
Example:
Scientists analyzed the vast amount of data collected from citizen science projects to identify long-term trends in bird migration patterns.
Human Capital
The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or population, viewed in terms of their value or cost to an organization or country.
Example:
By leveraging the human capital of millions of volunteers, projects like Wikipedia have built an enormous encyclopedia far beyond what a small team could achieve.
Internet
A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, enabling widespread access to data and human capital.
Example:
Thanks to the Internet, students from different countries can work together on a coding project in real-time, sharing code and ideas instantly.