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GenerationNation Taps into Texting Trend

February 15, 2012 - According to most teens, phone calls and emails are out - and texting is in.Through a partnership with CIBER and NPower, GenerationNation (formerly Kids VotingMecklenburg) has tapped into this texting trend to engage Charlotte teens on governmentissues, policies and decisions that directly impact their lives.

GenerationNation is using texting – the technology that high school students use the most – toreach them during critical years when they encounter high school civics. By using acommunication medium students prefer, GenerationNation is laying the foundation for creatinginformed and engaged citizens. They are also encouraging students to take part in shaping theirown communities by using text messaging to weigh in on civic issues.

As part of this text messaging pilot program, CIBER, a systems integration consultancy, workedclosely with NPower and GenerationNation to select the most appropriate texting software anddevelop protocols for implementing the program.

After launching the program, participating students attended a Mecklenburg County Commissionmeeting and texted their comments about issues being discussed. Topics covered in themeeting included funding allocation for Crisis Assistance Ministry and taking measures toprevent families from becoming homeless by providing funding for utility bills. After the meeting,students gathered in a classroom where they were able to see and discuss comments on theseimportant issues from their peers in real time.

According to Amy Farrell, GenerationNation executive director, “We found that students learnedfrom reading others’ comments and often came away from the texting discussion with newinsights. This type of civic education and collaboration among our students is exciting.”

One Monday night a few weeks ago, 10th graders participating in the program attended a CityCouncil meeting that included agenda items related to the Occupy Charlotte movement. Theyhad the opportunity to listen and comment on 35 citizens who spoke about proposed cityordinances – some who had even been arrested as part of the movement. Texts were collectedand then used for a student discussion afterwards. As one student points out, texting is muchmore reliable than writing comments on paper: “I’ll be the first to admit that it was difficult forstudents to keep up with paper surveys we filled out before at civic meetings. Texting ourcomments helps keep everything in one place and creates a more dynamic discussion after themeetings. “

“In some ways,” says Farrell, “the students' texts drive discussion after attending meetings.Students are more engaged because we are discussing topics that they identified and foundinteresting. They experience civics in action, so they learn and understand more than just thefacts about local government.”

Most of the students participating in the pilot texting program are 10th graders who mustcomplete specific civic courses in order to graduate from high school. GenerationNation offersprograms that help students meet this academic requirement. Through its overall K-12programs, GenerationNation increases civic literacy, improving overall understanding ofgovernment and the roles of citizens and leaders in our community. Students who know how ourgovernments and communities work graduate and become effective citizens and leaders.

“We have seen the impact text messaging programs can make for other nonprofit partners andare excited that GenerationNation is seeing similar results,” says Chris Duignan, a projectmanager with CIBER who is providing project strategy and oversight. “The texting pilot programhad a direct, positive impact on the mission of GenerationNation and we are thrilled that they areinvolving more students through this type of communication.”

Now that the initial pilot program is complete, GenerationNation is exploring additional ways tokeep students engaged through texting. This will include assisting teachers who want toincorporate texting into their curriculum to engage students in civic learning. With the DemocraticNational Convention coming to Charlotte, high school students will have even more opportunitiesto engage in civics via texting. The opportunities are endless.

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ciber Encourage Teen Civic Participation with Text Messaging http://www.npowercharlotteregion.org/About/News/ciberEncourageTeen...