As part of its mission to promote enhanced citizenship, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida embarked on a project that would engage those under 30 in political discourse on critical issues, focus on consensus building for the betterment of public policy, and create a platform for civil debate.

Leverage Engagement Youth are heavily engaged in digital media. We should consider how we leverage that engagement to promote civic and political engagement. Media Literacy Increasingly, civic and political life is occurring online. In order to prepare young people to be civic actors, we must prepare them to be effective and thoughtfully engaged with digital media.

Digital Media Supports Civic Engagement Brings light to the ideas of the people Increases public engagement Serves as a virtual space for assembly Eliminates barriers to entry Combats top-down control of content Creates networking opportunities between those who might not otherwise meet

Digital Media Supports Civic Engagement

Does Digital Media Promote Civil Discourse?

Strategies for promoting civil discourse Allow users to access and share information on social media channels such as Facebook. Affiliate comments with pictures of users. Allow folks to rate the constructive nature of others’ responses. Ask people to concisely defend their stance in 140 characters. Involve students in all stages of development.

Prototype The Wall

Eliminate barriers to entry Utilize modern technology Move to a binary response (“Yes” or “No”) set Provide recognizable language (“Like” & “Flag”) instead of a rating system for comments Make comments more readily available from both sides Allow for back-and-forth discussion Take a mobile approach Making for a more user-friendly and engaging experience

Mobile Devices The Great Equalizer

Kiosks in public places (Starbucks, bus stops) Other Walls at other universities Presidential Debates

The Wall Phenomenon

A political moment

Expressing a third option

Focus on literacy

If we’re honest... Lack of opinion and/or knowledge of the issue as a barrier to participation Engagement with other people, but not the issue Loaded and nuanced questions Seduced to write, but not to read Feels like a survey

Questions? Comments? Invectives?

another exciting graham center project

digital course in civic engagement

We like to help Emma K. Humphries, Ph.D. | Assistant in Citizenship 220 Pugh Hall | PO Box | Gainesville, FL Ph | Fax Shelby Taylor | Communications Director 220 Pugh Hall | PO Box | Gainesville, FL Ph | Fax