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How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election

Approx. 3 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Learn about how technology is changing democracy and its impact on the 2020 election in this course on Technology Shaping Democracy.

Key Learning Points

Explore the intersection of technology and democracy
Learn about the role of social media in the 2020 election
Understand the impact of technology on political polarization

Learning Outcomes

Understand the impact of technology on democracy
Analyze the role of social media in the political process
Evaluate the impact of technology on political polarization

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic understanding of politics and elections
Familiarity with social media platforms

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

Similar Courses

Digital Democracy: Theories, Practices, and Results
Elections, Voting, and Representation

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Description

Democracy can only thrive with the participation of well-informed citizens. The 2020 U.S. presidential election will be historic for many reasons and all parties are leveraging the power of technology to both influence and mobilize voters. More than ever, digital tools and platforms are shaping the opinions and behaviors of voters who will determine the future of the governance of the United States.

This new course examines the unprecedented influence of technology and technology policy on America’s elections and democratic process and takes a close look at how a public sphere plagued by polarization, online filter bubbles, a lack of transparency in content moderation policies, and foreign and domestic misinformation and disinformation campaigns, impacts our ability to be well-informed citizens. In this short-form, community awareness course, you will: – Learn how U.S. elections work and about the challenges of implementing new technology – Explore the dynamics of driving voter registration and casting a vote during a pandemic – Examine the role social media platforms play in our ability to maintain a healthy public discourse – See how these digital tools and filters help shape our beliefs, preferences, and convictions as citizens and how they can grow and diminish the agency of individuals, movements, governments, and foreign entities – Understand complex technology policy questions that affect content moderation Be more than a voter. Register now and become an advocate for a healthier democracy.

Knowledge

How US elections are administered and the challenges faced in implementing new technologies
The role digital and social media platforms play in our ability to maintain a healthy public discourse
The complex technology policy tradeoffs that affect what content we see in forming our beliefs, preferences, and convictions as citizens and voters

Outline

Introduction
Democracy, Technology, and the 2020 Election

Election Administration in the COVID-19 Era
Low-tech Voting in a High-tech World
Healthy Elections in a Global Pandemic
Module Issue Brief - Technology's Role in Administering Democratic Elections

Technology and the Digital Public Sphere
Tools for Good, Tools for Ill
The Pollution of Disinformation and Media Manipulation
Module Issue Brief - Social Media and Political Polarization

Where Speech and Tech Policy Collide
Governing Speech is Tricky
Everything in Moderation, Except Content
Module Issue Brief - Content Moderation and Accountability

Confronting Misinformation and Disinformation
Defining and Responding to Disinformation
Manipulative Campaigns, Foreign and Domestic
Module Issue Brief-Foreign Interference and Domestic Manipulations

Summary of User Reviews

Read reviews for Technology Shaping Democracy: 2020 Election course on Coursera. Users have found this course to be informative and thought-provoking. Many users appreciated the focus on the impact of technology on democracy.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Focus on the impact of technology on democracy

Pros from User Reviews

Course is informative and thought-provoking
Great insights into the intersection of technology and democracy
Expert instructors with deep knowledge of the subject matter

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course material to be too dense
Certain sections of the course were repetitive
Not suitable for beginners with no prior knowledge of the subject matter

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How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election

Democracy can only thrive with the participation of well-informed citizens. The 2020 U. S. In this short-form, community awareness course, you will:...

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