apidly advancing information and communication technologies have provided economic opportunity, new platforms for civic mobilization, and the dissemination of news and commentary. Yet they are also subject to censorship, surveillance, and exploitation by antidemocratic forces. As we grapple with how to nurture and preserve democracy in the digital age, the discussion often turns to technology’s impact on democratic institutions, collective understanding, communication, and trust. That often means supporting or regulating tech companies to help ensure their impact on essential democratic institutions doesn’t undermine democracy. That is an important area of work as is identifying and mitigating malicious attacks on democracy of all kinds. One area of engagement often overlooked is education.
To empower people to adapt to the changes technology is causing in our societal dynamics and the resulting conflicting priorities, we must invest in evolving education to meet the moment.
What are the skills needed? Cyber skills, critical thinking, coping skills, renewed investment in civic education.
Cyber skills. The U.S. 2023 National Cyber Workforce and Education strategy demonstrates that foundational cyber skills must become universal like reading and math. Foundational cyber skills consist of three components:
- Digital literacy: The cognitive and technical skills needed to use information and technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
- Computational literacy: The ability to consume information and use applications and systems to: analyze data, draw conclusions, and solve problems; safely, ethically, and securely interact in networked environments; and understand how computing, data, and connectivity affects society.
- Digital resilience: The awareness, skills, agility, and confidence to be empowered users of new technologies and adapt to changing digital skill demands.
Critical Thinking. Critical Thinking is the foundation of science and a liberal democratic society. The skill, for example, is unfortunately not taught well in schools across America. We must invest in teaching critical thinking to enable individuals to participate in democratic life—weighing options, taking alternative views into consideration, and gathering information to make informed and reasoned decisions.
Coping skills. Critical thinking skills must be paired with the ability to adapt and adjust to new information that tests preconceived notions. Equipping citizens to cope with new information that may alter or upend what they believe is critical to effectively navigating an environment where overwhelm and stress from the sheer volume of information are shown to have physical, mental, and emotional impacts on adults and adolescents alike.
Civic education. Reinvigorating civics for all ages is essential in a moment where trust in democratic institutions is waning and attacks on democracy grow. All Americans need to understand the fundamentals of our democratic republic and their role in sustaining it. Teaching civic education in the context of technology provides context that might engage and interest generations of citizens that largely feel disenfranchised and disillusioned.
Education is not a quick fix but an investment in the long–term sustainability of democracy. Whether we’re looking at mature democracies or nascent democracies, adapting education to better equip citizens of all ages to meaningfully engage and develop a sense of civic identity will help nurture and preserve democracy.
a global affairs media network
Education is key to any strategy to preserve and nurture democracy
Photo by Yan Krukau from Pexels.
August 9, 2024
Advancing information and communication technologies offer economic opportunities and new civic platforms but face censorship and exploitation. To preserve democracy, we must invest in education—equipping us with cyber skills, critical thinking, and civic education, writes Camille Stewart Gloster.
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apidly advancing information and communication technologies have provided economic opportunity, new platforms for civic mobilization, and the dissemination of news and commentary. Yet they are also subject to censorship, surveillance, and exploitation by antidemocratic forces. As we grapple with how to nurture and preserve democracy in the digital age, the discussion often turns to technology’s impact on democratic institutions, collective understanding, communication, and trust. That often means supporting or regulating tech companies to help ensure their impact on essential democratic institutions doesn’t undermine democracy. That is an important area of work as is identifying and mitigating malicious attacks on democracy of all kinds. One area of engagement often overlooked is education.
To empower people to adapt to the changes technology is causing in our societal dynamics and the resulting conflicting priorities, we must invest in evolving education to meet the moment.
What are the skills needed? Cyber skills, critical thinking, coping skills, renewed investment in civic education.
Cyber skills. The U.S. 2023 National Cyber Workforce and Education strategy demonstrates that foundational cyber skills must become universal like reading and math. Foundational cyber skills consist of three components:
- Digital literacy: The cognitive and technical skills needed to use information and technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
- Computational literacy: The ability to consume information and use applications and systems to: analyze data, draw conclusions, and solve problems; safely, ethically, and securely interact in networked environments; and understand how computing, data, and connectivity affects society.
- Digital resilience: The awareness, skills, agility, and confidence to be empowered users of new technologies and adapt to changing digital skill demands.
Critical Thinking. Critical Thinking is the foundation of science and a liberal democratic society. The skill, for example, is unfortunately not taught well in schools across America. We must invest in teaching critical thinking to enable individuals to participate in democratic life—weighing options, taking alternative views into consideration, and gathering information to make informed and reasoned decisions.
Coping skills. Critical thinking skills must be paired with the ability to adapt and adjust to new information that tests preconceived notions. Equipping citizens to cope with new information that may alter or upend what they believe is critical to effectively navigating an environment where overwhelm and stress from the sheer volume of information are shown to have physical, mental, and emotional impacts on adults and adolescents alike.
Civic education. Reinvigorating civics for all ages is essential in a moment where trust in democratic institutions is waning and attacks on democracy grow. All Americans need to understand the fundamentals of our democratic republic and their role in sustaining it. Teaching civic education in the context of technology provides context that might engage and interest generations of citizens that largely feel disenfranchised and disillusioned.
Education is not a quick fix but an investment in the long–term sustainability of democracy. Whether we’re looking at mature democracies or nascent democracies, adapting education to better equip citizens of all ages to meaningfully engage and develop a sense of civic identity will help nurture and preserve democracy.
