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- Study guide
- Module 1
- Topic 1: What is Student Digital Civic Engagement?
- Topic 2: How is Digital Civic Engagement Impacting Universities (and Beyond)?
- Topic 3: What Competences do Student Civic Engagers Develop?
- Topic 4: What does Student Digital Civic Engagement Look Like in Practice?
- Evaluation test for module 1
- Resources and further studies (Module 1)
- Module 2
- Topic 1: Problems that need solving – spotlight on global issues
- Topic 2: Improving your community through civic engagement
- Topic 3: Taking a service-learning approach to an DCE project
- Topic 4: DCE is building your competency levels. Here are the opportunities
- Evaluation test for module 2
- Resources and further studies (Module 2)
- Module 3
- Topic 1: What Do Great Digital Civic Engagement Projects Include?
- Topic 2: Getting Involved In Your First Digital Civic Engagement Project/ Initiative
- Topic 3: Using Technology To Enhance Your Civic Engagement Work
- Topic 4: Designing/ Delivering Digital Civic Engagement Solutions
- Evaluation test for module 3
- Resources and further studies (Module 3)
- Module 4
- Module 5
- Topic 1: Estimating Project Costs And Financial Needs
- Topic 2: Spotlight On Lean Start Up and Sustainable Business Model Canvas
- Topic 3: Crowdfunding Your Civic Engagement Projects /Causes
- Topic 4: Leveraging the power of corporate social responsibility
- Evaluation test for module 5
- Resources and further studies (Module 5)
- Module 6
- Topic 1: Why Building Credibility, Trust and Relationships are Key
- Topic 2: Cultivating and Growing a Student Civic Engagement Community
- Topic 3: Spotlight on Mission Marketing
- Topic 4: Technology Tools to Help You Share and Spread Your Civic Engagement Work
- Evaluation test for module 6
- Resources and further studies (Module 6)
Topic 4: Technology Tools to Help You Share and Spread Your Civic Engagement Work
This section highlights different digital tools and platforms that students can use to help spread the word of their project. Students should gain the understanding of the selection of tools and how they can benefit the project in different ways, from hosting a website to using social media as a free marketing tool.
Using Tools to Share and Spread Your Civic Engagement Project
Choosing the correct digital tools can mean the success or failure of your DCE project.
While each module will have a focus on relevant digital tools, this topic has a focus on which digital tools you can use to help market and promote your SDCE project.
As most DCE projects will be conducted on a voluntary basis and funds will be limited, the highlighted tools are free to use.
From Tools to Strategy
Before we get started on what tools will be best for which strategy, check out this video which focuses on how digital tools can become apart of the strategy to gain civic engagement in communities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nppvMyznqHc
Canva
Canva is an online graphic design tool, allowing you to create stunning visual. It is free to use and provides templates which can be modified to whatever the user needs.
Canva uses a drag and drop interface and with a small learning curve, Canva can be used to design many different types of digital content such as Instagram posts, posters, videos and even business cards!
WordPress
Traditionally, WordPress was a tool primarily used by individuals and organizations for blogging, but it can also be used to create websites. Using a drag and drop interface, making a website with WordPress has never been easier.
Wordpress has a large array of third-party plugins, allowing it to be used with many tools and offers consistent usage between mobile and computer browsing.
Check out the WordPress website here.
Stock Photo Sources
Creating visually engaging content is extremely important for your DCE project’s success. By creating visually stunning content you will attract higher organic growth to your social media channels, as well as increase engagement.
However, it is important that you use images that you have permission for, or you might end up owing royalties to the photographer who took it.
The following websites are our favourite for sourcing copyright free stock photos (as seen in our Modules), click on any of the links to access them:
- Free stock photos & videos you can use everywhere with Pexels
- Unsplash: Beautiful free Images and Pictures
- Pixabay: 2.4 million+ Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere
Send Out Newsletters With Mailchimp
Developing a newsletter can be a fantastic way keep people updated on the progress about your project, as well as informing people how they could become involved or support the project.
Mailchimp is an email automation online tool that allows users to send out emails to your mailing list.
It can also be used to create automated email marketing campaigns.
Check out Mailchimp by clicking on this link.
PowToon for Storytelling
PowToon is a tool that enables its user to create visual and engaging videos and presentations in the form of animation. With a short learning curve, PowToon allows users to create a diverse and visually impacting video animation. This is perfect for creating stories for your DCE project to capture a new audience.
Check out the powtoon website: PowToon #1 Video Creation Tool – Used by 27 Million People
Which Social Media Platforms Should We Use?
Depending on what type of DCE project you have, it can greatly influence which of the social media platforms that you use.
Think about the users of your project, those that you are helping. What platform do you think they will use?
Other aspects can also influence which platform to use. If you have a lot of updates, or wanted to livestream sessions think about using Facebook.
Which Social Media Platforms is Right for Us?
There are also other aspects that can influence which platform you want to use. If you have a lot of updates, or want to livestream sessions think about using Facebook. Facebook as a platform is great for also sharing meeting dates.
If your project is highly visible, you may want to use more visually orientated platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
Twitter also offers a great platform where conversations occur between parties.
Quick Test
