NCoC: Online Engagement

Home About Programs Media Research Discussions Solutions

Online Engagement

As technology becomes a larger part of our daily lives, questions have been raised about its impact on our civic health. Does technology force social isolation behind computer screens and mobile devices, or does it provide more convenient outlets to take civic action, stay connected and informed, and express political views?

NCoC believes to address community issues and challenges in any area, research must be collected, discussion must occur, and solutions must be proposed. Here, you can see research, discussion, and solutions associated with online engagement. This is meant to help explain and animate that focus area, as well as facilitate the process of moving from information to action within it.

Online Issues:Research | Discussions | Solutions

Online Research

Title	Date	Type
Sandra Day O’ConnorFormer Justice of the Supreme Court I thought we needed to develop a program in the civics area, starting first with the courts and put it online with the computer and develop some actual participatory games to be played by the students ...	November 5, 2008	expert commentary
Ian RoweVice president of Strategic Partnerships and Public Policy, MTVI think there’s tremendous opportunity in the technologies we talked about in the prior panel. Incredible in terms of new types of communications – communications between people who already ...	November 5, 2008	expert commentary
Can Facebook Replace Face-to-Face? The 2008 National Conference on Citizenship raised this provocative question with Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook and Bill Galston of the Brookings Institute. Parker and Galston discussed, ...	November 14, 2008	video
Gatekeepers and New MediaDuring the 2008 National Conference on Citizenship, panelists Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution and Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook, agreed to disagree on the subject of gatekeepers ...	November 20, 2008	video
The Internet: Civic Polarizer or Unifier?There's an old saying, ”Great minds think alike.” Or is that just what we tell ourselves when we find people who think as we do? Sean Parker, William Galston and Joe Trippi conclude their dynamic ...	November 26, 2008	video
Allison Fine on Civic ROIUsing social media to listen and learn doesn’t become important as part of one campaign or effort; it is a way of being in this new world.	June 1, 2009	expert commentary
Social Media and A New Model of Civic Engagement by Nick TroianoWhile there remains a vibrant debate over whether social media is creating new activists or just enhancing the tools used by existing ones, it is clear there has been a fundamental change in the way citizens ...	July 7, 2009	discussion
The Emerging Generation: Opportunities with the MillennialsWho Engages?In the 2009 Civic Health Index, Millennials emerge as the “top” group for volunteering. However, the differences by age are generally small.	August 27, 2009	civic health index
Civic Health Index Finds America in the Midst of Civic ForeclosureStudy Finds that God, Friends and Facebook are Important Factors for Fostering Civic Engagement	August 27, 2009	press release
Social Innovation in Civic LifeA 2009 NCoC PanelThis panel at the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship explored the role of social innovation in civic life.	September 25, 2009	video

Online Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
Social media aids in Haiti earthquake relief and responseFrom Twitter organizing to Google maps to text-to-give donations, the widespread use and application of social technology is altering and facilitating the modes through which Haitian earthquake relief ...	January 15, 2010	discussion
Social Innovation in Civic LifeA 2009 NCoC PanelThis panel at the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship explored the role of social innovation in civic life.	September 25, 2009	video
Social Media and A New Model of Civic Engagement by Nick TroianoWhile there remains a vibrant debate over whether social media is creating new activists or just enhancing the tools used by existing ones, it is clear there has been a fundamental change in the way citizens ...	July 7, 2009	discussion
The Internet: Civic Polarizer or Unifier?There's an old saying, ”Great minds think alike.” Or is that just what we tell ourselves when we find people who think as we do? Sean Parker, William Galston and Joe Trippi conclude their dynamic ...	November 26, 2008	video
Gatekeepers and New MediaDuring the 2008 National Conference on Citizenship, panelists Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution and Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook, agreed to disagree on the subject of gatekeepers ...	November 20, 2008	video
Can Facebook Replace Face-to-Face? The 2008 National Conference on Citizenship raised this provocative question with Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook and Bill Galston of the Brookings Institute. Parker and Galston discussed, ...	November 14, 2008	video

Online Solutions

Title	Date	Type
Causes on FacebookCauses empowers anyone with a good idea or passion for change to impact the world. Using our platform, individuals mobilize their network of friends to grow lasting social and political movements.	February 23, 2010	partner
Harnessing Active Citizenship: The Internet as a Tool to Engage the PublicIn Using Online Tools to Engage-and be Engaged- by The Public , author Matt Leighninger describes how a “public manager” can use specific technologies to harness the power of active citizenship ...	June 10, 2011	publication
iCivicsiCivics (formerly Our Courts) is a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy.	November 17, 2008	partner

NCoC on

View Timeline

Tweets by @NCoC

My Six Month AnniversaryMay 2, 2013 Michigan Releases its 2012 Civic Health Index TodayApril 24, 2013 N.H. Ranks High in Civic Health, UNH Carsey Institute FindsApril 17, 2013

Dave DelucaJune 21, 2012 Jacob SoboroffApril 11, 2012 Dev AujlaFebruary 28, 2012