3 strategies for developing citizenship in the digital age at school

At the opening of the Digital Education Summit, Alexandre Chenette, Annie Turbide, Marjorie Paradis and Alexandre Lanoix proposed three strategies for developing citizenship in the digital age at school. We present them to you.

Our Digital education summit opened on May 5 with a conference by Alexandre Chenette, Annie Turbide, Marjorie Paradis of the RÉCIT National Service, Human Development field, and Alexandre Lanoix of the Université de Montréal. 

From the beginning, they reminded us of the importance, as citizens, of taking an interest in the issues of the digital world in order to stay in control. "We need to be aware of how it works, we need to be on the lookout for new things. Digital is not in a parallel universe. It's real life."

For young people, it has never been easier to be active and engaged citizens. Thanks to social networks, content is easily shared, ideas circulate quickly, for better or for worse... This is why it is now necessary to accompany young people in the development of their citizenship.

"There must be a dialogue between the school's culture and that of the student. The school must help young people build their vision of the world, develop their power of action and structure their identity," said Alexandre Lanoix.

Quote from the introduction: "No one educates others, no one educates himself alone, men educate themselves together through the world." Paulo Freire

How can schools help young people develop citizenship in the digital age?

Here are the 3 strategies proposed by the speakers.

1. Accept that you don't have all the answers
   • This involves:
     1. to educate instead of prohibit, 
     2. model behaviors with students (e.g., develop search strategies with them).
   • The objective: That they become citizens capable of thinking for themselves, creative in finding solutions, open and willing to question themselves.
2. Develop a digital culture
   • This involves: 
     1. develop numerical skills (with reference to the Framework for Digital Competence),
     2. to discuss digital issues with them.
   • The goal: That they become curious citizens, aware of the impacts of digital uses on the community, capable of creating, collaborating, communicating and solving problems with digital technology.
3. Invite students to the table
   • This means:
     1. involve students in decisions (e.g., co-create classroom rules with them)
     2. offer them (real) choices (to develop a sense of responsibility and autonomy)
   • The goal: That they become citizens who are capable of making decisions and taking responsibility for them, who are able to take part in social deliberations, who are convinced that they can make a difference.

"School is a privileged place to exercise one's power of action. Let's give young people that opportunity," said Annie Turbide.

"We are all learning, adults and children alike, we are developing our citizenship in the digital age, together", concluded Alexandre Lanoix.

The opening event was streamed live on Facebook. It is possible to watch it again.