Crowdsourcing and Engaging the Public

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Update: Here are our notes from the discussion: docs.google.com/document/d/1qKnwi–Y867jrIZECgNnyyCE8RhW67g_ChR_bxvxQ1k/edit

I’d like to propose a session on crowdsourcing and engaging the public in digital humanities efforts. My background is in computer science, so I’m especially interested in discussing how folks from the humanities are (thinking about) using crowdsourcing or otherwise soliciting public participation in their work. Possible discussion topics include:

  • How can we involve novices and amateurs in contributing meaningfully to DH projects?
  • What are examples of compelling crowdsourced DH efforts we should know about?
  • What technical and social challenges are we experiencing in engaging the public in our DH projects?
  • When is crowdsourcing a good idea? When are automated approaches more effective?
  • How can we build a critical mass of participants? How can we sustain that participation?
  • What ethical issues should we consider when planning crowdsourced DH projects?
  • What are fruitful ways for novices and experts (e.g. scholars) to support each other in a DH context?
  • What lessons from crowdsourcing in other domains (citizen science, etc.) can we bring to DH, and vice versa?