Can voter engagement be improved through digital participation?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can assess if voter engagement could be improved through digital participation.
Key learning points
- Voting is essential in democracy, giving citizens a voice in decisions and holding leaders accountable.
- High voter turnout leads to more representative outcomes, strengthening the legitimacy of governments.
- Digital democracy could improve voter engagement by making political information and participation more accessible.
- Digital tools connect voters with politicians and provide opportunities for political education and feedback.
Keywords
Voting - a formal way of making a choice or decision; voting in an election is a formal way of choosing someone to represent you
Participate - the active involvement of citizens in the political process, such as voting in elections, engaging in debates, or joining political groups
Common misconception
Digital democracy means it is easier for everyone to get involved.
Digital democracy can help reduce barriers. However, not everyone has equal access to technology or the internet. Some people may struggle with digital skills or lack internet access, creating barriers to participation.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to think critically about how digital tools can both improve and challenge democracy. Use real-world examples to spark discussion on how digital democracy could be made more inclusive, secure and trustworthy.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each word to the correct definition.
using technology responsibly and safely when online
false or misleading information shared online
keeping personal information safe from others
Q2.Which of the following best describes digital democracy?
Q3.Not everyone has the same level of to digital devices and the internet, which can affect their ability to take part in democracy.
Q4.How is technology helping more people take part in democracy?
Q5.A good digital citizen knows how to stay online and protect others too.
Q6.Which of these is a challenge of digital democracy?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to its correct definition.
when people vote to choose their leaders
the percentage of people who vote in an election
the activity of choosing someone or something in an election
refers to the active involvement of citizens in the political process
Q2.Why is voting such an important part of democracy?
Q3.Which of these is a way digital tools can help people vote?
Q4. voter turnout leads to more representative outcomes, strengthening the legitimacy of governments.
Q5.Which of the following best explains why digital democracy may not be accessible to everyone?
Q6.Complete the sentence: Digital tools help voters with politicians and make it easier to learn about politics and share their opinions.
To help you plan your 9 citizenship lesson on: Can voter engagement be improved through digital participation?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 citizenship lesson on: Can voter engagement be improved through digital participation?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the Can digital democracy increase political participation? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.