Civic engagement is the key to a functioning democracy. As we acclimate to a digital climate, we’ll have to find more efficient ways to safeguard democratic processes, especially as even some of the biggest tech conglomerates in the world have problems with privacy breaches, disinformation and political bias.

1. The Importance of
Civic Engagement
for Students in
the Digital Age
JAKE CROMAN

2. Civic engagement is the key to a
functioning democracy. As we
acclimate to a digital climate,
we’ll have to find more efficient
ways to safeguard democratic
processes, especially as even
some of the biggest tech
conglomerates in the world have
problems with privacy breaches,
disinformation and political bias.

3. Why and how is civic engagement for students
so important in the digital age, in particular?
Learning how to become civically engaged is
crucial early on in a child’s education and
development and continuing on at the higher
education level.
For one, civic engagement helps students learn
how to critically assess and collaborate with
others on a larger-scale. As they learn how
important civic engagement is that they can
learn how to be responsible citizens who care
for people on both an individual, hyperlocal
and even global scale.

4. It also allows encourages students
to inherently see themselves as
agents of change. Many times kids
are taught they don’t have control
over themselves and the world
around them, but civic engagement
actively promotes the idea of
imagining themselves as part of the
solution to a problem, rather than
passive bystanders.

5. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet,
so it’s essential for educators to help students
discern what’s a credible source, especially if it
seems to undermine democratic values.
But when we link students to community-
based issues and incorporate work-based
learning experiences through digital resources,
we can start giving students opportunities to
determine how they’re going to apply the skills
these thinking and soft skills in the real world.

6. Civic engagement gives students
more of a voice and a solid
foundation to grow agency and
structure and expand how they
relate to the world with the things
they learn in class. School can be the
gateway to community engagement.

7. Additionally, schools should start reaching out
to organizations during the learning process so
students can have more integrated experiences
with the tools and skills they learn and use.
This way both digital-minded practices can be
incorporated with real life experiences.I
believe that all schools should have classes
that focus on civic engagement or at least
incorporate and emphasize it into their
curriculums.
Ultimately, students can take what they’ve
learned and go above and beyond the
standards learn about their communities and
transform them for the better.

8. Thank you!
JAKECROMAN.COM