eCitizenship: New Tools, New Strategies, New Spaces
Topic:
Facebook®, wikis, blogs and a host of other technology-based tools
are transforming the ways that citizens interact with others and with
government. Indeed, technology is transforming our democracy. How do
we begin to understand this transformation and to find ways for colleges
and universities to use these tools to prepare informed, engaged
citizens.
Goals:
This three-year initiative is a partnership of AASCU and the Center
for the Study of Citizenship at Wayne State University. Still in the
beginning phases, the participating thirty-five institutions in this
initiative will work together to study how emerging technologies,
particularly social networks, support and facilitate civic and political
engagement. The main goal of the initiative to provide insights into
and strategies for engaging undergraduates in the use of social networks
and technology tools for civic purposes. Those strategies can then be
broadly employed to prepare undergraduates for lives of engagement and
participation.
Achievements:
In September 2009, the campuses participated in an online forum discussion about “Promising Practices In Online Engagement” by Scott Bittle, Chris Haller and Alison Kadlec.
In November, the campus coordinators for this initiative attended an
inaugural institute to officially launch the eCitizenship initiative. A
group of eCitizenship campuses are participating in a sub-initiative
focused on online community asset mapping. More information about this
sub-initiative can be found on the eCitizenship Wiki.
Follow us on Twitter @eCitizenship
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Check out the eCitizenship Wiki
Partner:
Center for the Study of Citizenship, Wayne State University
Map of eCitizenship Participants
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List of Participants