8. Young People’s Civic Engagement in the Digital World (Dr Julianne Viola)
In our interconnected world, it is easier than ever before to connect with people and ideas outside of our context. Young people are engaging with others online and sharing their thoughts and experiences on social media. In today’s digitally mediated world, what are the lived civic experiences of young people? How can parents and educators encourage young people to learn and develop their civic identities?
Dr Julianne Viola is a postdoctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship (CHERS) at Imperial College London. She completed her doctorate at the Department of Education, University of Oxford, where her research explored how adolescents develop their civic identities, and the role of social media and technology on youth civic identity. Julianne has a particular interest in young people's civic identity development and engagement with their communities. These interests, as well as her experience as an educator and mentor for young people through organisations like the Junior State of America, shaped and motivated her wok. Julianne has collaborated on a number of research projects at Harvard University, the University of California, Santa Barbara, Oxford Internet Institute, and The Education Hub, a not-for-profit organisation in New Zealand. Most recently Julianne has written a wonderful book entitled Young People’s Civic Identity in the Digital Age, which we will discuss in this episode.
Links:
Dr Julianne Viola: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/j.viola
Book: Young People’s Civic Identity in the Digital Age
Twitter: @DrJulianneViola
Book: The Political Classroom