The Active Citizen in the Digital Age

We are each digitally dependent. We use networked digital gadgets and infrastructure to communicate, shop, manage transportation, look at photos, and entertain ourselves. Many of us also use these tools to organize political protests, donate money, follow political issues, check our voting status, and sign petitions. In other words, the ways we engage as active citizens in our communities are shaped by our access to and understanding of digital tools.

Starting on May 15, 2017 Rob Reich and I will be teaching a 6 week online class on these intersections and dependencies. Hosted on the NovoEd platform, the class is free and open to anyone. The class has been designed to introduce the idea of digital civil society and to help participants consider the ways they engage in the issues that they care about. The NovoEd platform uniquely supports class participation, group exercises, and opportunities for discussion and deliberation with others - it's "Not your grandfather's MOOC." I hope you'll join us.

Sign up here: REGISTRATION LINK

The class provides an introduction to the different ways individuals can actively shape the civic fabric of our towns, states, and countries. While democracy and democratic structures have evolved over centuries, each of the sectors of society are still adapting to digital dependencies. We look at how networked digital infrastructure matters to active participation in civil society, government, and markets. 

Through a mix of videos, readings, and participant interaction we'll begin with an introduction to the three sectors that constitute a thriving democracy and provide a framework for thinking about digital civil society. Subsequent sessions look more closely at volunteering, donating, political action, and market behavior. Participants can work at their own pace and will also work in online teams to practice decision making as part of a community.

Throughout the class we will consider the ways in which digital dependence changes civil society and active civic engagement. Class participants will learn about – and practice – coming together to make community decisions and the importance of these roles in democratic systems.

In addition to sharing these ideas and providing participants a chance to consider their decisions in an online group setting, the class is also a testing ground for these ideas. The platform provides a way to involve people from around the world and share these ideas. Unlike other online classes, the system also facilitates group discussion and decision making – key elements of citizen participation.

We’re excited about this course. The learning will go both ways. As we share our ideas with you about citizen engagement in the digital age we’re eager for your feedback on the framework of digital civil society. As part of the Digital Civil Society Lab at Stanford PACS, this course gives us another opportunity to learn with and from people like you who are committed to improving your communities.

I hope you’ll consider joining us - and please invite your neighbors, colleagues, and existing community partners. Full information and the registration link is below:

Course Name: The Active Citizen in a Digital Age

Provider: Stanford University 

Platform: NovoEd

Cost: Free

Start Date: May 15th, 2017

Duration: 6 weeks

Sign up here: REGISTRATION LINK