Date created: | Last Updated:

Category: Uncategorized

Description: The goal of the Child Labor Project was to ask questions about individuals who appear in statistical tables. Taught in a fall 2019 course, Introduction to Data in Social Context, this project was framed by approaches from labor history and critical data theory that encouraged students to see “hidden labor” behind algorithmic processing. Library of Congress search tools located nearly seventy photographs of Virginia child laborers (see below). Collaboration tools allowed groups to share research, analyze statistics, and prepare presentations. Failures were due to instructor’s inadequate preparation. Data in Social Context workshops were funded by Virginia Tech; external grant applications failed. Project successfully promoted inquiry into the humanity of statistics. Library of Congress collaborators advised on finding photographs, observed presentations, and posted an essay. Institutional support included data consultation, teaching assistant, and news story. The next step in spring 2021 will include expanded scope, focused analysis, and comparisons to data work.