How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election from Coursera

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.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Instructors Rob Reich and Marietje Schaake present the major themes and questions explored in this community awareness course on democracy, technology, and the 2020 election.

Election Administration in the COVID-19 Era

Understand the current, decentralized election system in the United States and consider the challenges election jurisdictions face to implement new technologies and administer elections amidst challenging circumstances. Featured guests include Tiana Epps-Johnson, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, and Nate Persily, Stanford Law Professor and co-director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center.

Technology and the Digital Public Sphere

Explore the uses of technology tools and platforms that influence the public sphere of information, and see how these digital tools shape the beliefs of citizens and how they grow and diminish the agency of individuals, movements, governments, and foreign entities. Featured guests include Joan Donovan, research director at the Shorenstein Center of Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, and Joshua Tucker, professor of politics at NYU, and co-director of the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics.

Where Speech and Tech Policy Collide

Discover the tensions and trade-offs between the content moderation policies of technology companies, the growing calls to govern speech in the public sphere, and the challenges to creating effective public policies to address these issues. Featured guests include Evelyn Douek, a lecturer and S.J.D. candidate at Harvard Law School, and Nick Pickles, global head of public policy strategy and development at Twitter.

Confronting Misinformation and Disinformation

Learn what is different between the 2016 and 2020 U.S. election cycles in how institutions are actively confronting disinformation and misinformation campaigns, and better understand the complexity of addressing foreign versus domestic information actors in a free society. Featured guests include Alex Stamos, director of the Stanford Internet Observatory and former chief security officer at Facebook, and Camille François, chief innovation officer at Graphika.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines how digital tools and platforms influence the public sphere of information, offering insights into how these tools shape the beliefs of US citizens

Taught by Rob Reich, Marietje Schaake, and Lisa Einstein, all recognized experts in technology, democracy, and public policy

Suitable for learners with any background knowledge of politics, technology, or US elections

Analyzes the role of social media platforms in maintaining a healthy public discourse, a highly relevant topic in contemporary society

Covers complex technology policy questions that affect content moderation, providing valuable knowledge for those interested in the intersection of technology and public policy

Reviews summary

Democracy and the 2020 election

learners say that How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election is an interesting and informative course that is well organized and presented. The course is a rehashing of the 2016 election and is tailored to the American context. Some learners found the course to be biased and lacking in objectivity. Overall, learners found the course to be a good introduction to the topic of technology and democracy.

Learners found the course to be interesting and informative.

"i found the content interesting and gleaned quite a few new insights."

"It was a very interesting topic of study"

The course is well organized and presented.

"The course is well organized and presented."

Some learners found the course to be biased and lacking in objectivity.

"Reeks of bias and lack of objectivity."

"Within the first minutes of introduction lecturers exposed few of their biases."

The course is a rehashing of the 2016 election.

"This is not a certificate course, so be aware. It was somewhat interesting and was a rehashing of the 2016 election."

The course is tailored to the American context.

"its disadvanatge is that this course is tailored to the American context."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election with these activities:

Identify and reach out to a mentor who can provide guidance on a specific topic related to the course

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Seek guidance from an experienced individual to enhance your understanding of the course material and expand your knowledge.

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Identify a potential mentor.
Reach out to the mentor and introduce yourself.
Explain your interest in mentorship and specific areas where you seek guidance.
Set up regular meetings or communication channels with your mentor.

Review 'The People's Guide to Monitoring Elections' by The Carter Center

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Familiarize yourself with best practices and methodologies for monitoring elections, preparing you to better understand and evaluate the role of technology in the electoral process.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read and understand the different methods and techniques used to monitor elections.
Learn about the legal and ethical considerations involved in election monitoring.
Identify the key stakeholders and organizations involved in election monitoring.
Consider how technology can enhance or hinder election monitoring efforts.

Review Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville

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Refresh your understanding of the foundations of American democracy and prepare for the course's explorations of the influence of technology and policy on its current state.

View Democracy in America on Amazon

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Read and understand the main themes and ideas presented in the book.
Summarize each chapter in your own words.
Identify the key arguments and supporting evidence presented by Tocqueville.
Consider the relevance of Tocqueville's observations to the current state of American democracy.

Five other activities

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Create a visual representation of the current U.S. election system

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Develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of the U.S. election system by creating a visual representation that illustrates its structure and processes.

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Research and gather information about the different components of the U.S. election system.
Choose a visual format that effectively communicates the information, such as a flowchart, diagram, or infographic.
Create a draft of the visual representation and seek feedback from others.
Refine and finalize the visual representation based on feedback.

Participate in discussion forums on the course platform

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Engage with your fellow learners to share insights, discuss course topics, and enhance your understanding of the material.

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Actively participate in the discussion forums.
Post thoughtful questions and responses.
Engage with other learners' posts.
Seek clarification when needed.

Analyze case studies of technology-related challenges in past U.S. elections

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Strengthen your ability to identify and analyze the potential impact of technology on elections by examining real-world examples.

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Identify and gather case studies of technology-related challenges in past U.S. elections.
Analyze each case study, identifying the specific technology involved, the challenges encountered, and the lessons learned.
Compare and contrast the different case studies, identifying common themes and patterns.
Develop recommendations for how to mitigate or address similar challenges in future elections.

Collaborate with a peer to create a presentation on a topic related to the course

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Deepen your understanding of a course topic by researching, preparing, and presenting it to your peers.

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Choose a topic related to the course.
Research and gather information on the topic.
Create a presentation that effectively communicates the information.
Practice delivering the presentation.
Present the topic to your peers.

Compile and organize your notes, assignments, and course materials

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Organize your learning materials to enhance retention and facilitate future reference.

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Gather and organize your notes, assignments, and course materials.
Create a system for filing and organizing your materials.
Review your materials regularly.

Career center

Learners who complete How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Election Analyst

As an Election Analyst, you will be responsible for researching and analyzing election data for a specific purpose. This course will help you build a foundation in election systems and data analysis, ensuring you can effectively analyze election data and identify trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Election Analyst

Digital Campaign Strategist

As a Digital Campaign Strategist, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a digital marketing campaign for a specific product or service. This course will help you build a foundation in the strategic use of technology in politics, ensuring you can effectively plan and execute a successful digital campaign.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Campaign Strategist

Data Privacy Analyst

As a Data Privacy Analyst, you will be responsible for ensuring that an organization's data is collected, used, and stored in a manner that complies with applicable laws and regulations. You will also need to be able to communicate your findings in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences. This course helps build a foundation in the challenges and opportunities of data privacy and will help you succeed in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Privacy Analyst

Public Opinion Researcher

As a Public Opinion Researcher, you will be responsible for conducting surveys and polls to measure public opinion on a specific topic. This course will help you build a foundation in survey research and data analysis, ensuring you can effectively design and conduct surveys that produce accurate and reliable results.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Opinion Researcher

Media Strategist

As a Media Strategist, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a media strategy for a specific product or service. This course will help you build a foundation in media planning and buying, ensuring you can effectively develop and implement a successful media strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Media Strategist

Digital Marketing Manager

As a Digital Marketing Manager, you will be responsible for developing and executing a digital marketing strategy for a specific product or service. This course will help you build a foundation in digital literacy and consumer behavior, ensuring you can effectively manage a successful digital marketing campaign.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Manager

Marketing Analyst

As a Marketing Analyst, you will be responsible for gathering and analyzing data on a specific market or industry. This course will help you build a foundation in marketing research and data analysis, ensuring you can effectively analyze data and identify trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst

Legislator

As a Legislator, you will be responsible for drafting and passing laws for a specific region or state. This course will help you build a foundation in public policy and political science, ensuring you can effectively draft and pass laws that are both effective and popular.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legislator

Public Affairs Manager

As a Public Affairs Manager, you will be responsible for managing a company's public relations and government affairs activities. This course will help you build a foundation in public relations and public policy, ensuring you can effectively manage a company's public image and relationships with government agencies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Affairs Manager

Government Affairs Manager

As a Government Affairs Manager, you will be responsible for representing a company's interests before government agencies and elected officials. This course will help you build a foundation in public policy and political science, ensuring you can effectively navigate the complex world of government affairs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Government Affairs Manager

Political Consultant

As a Political Consultant, you will be responsible for providing political advice to candidates and elected officials. This course will help you build a foundation in political science and campaign management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Consultant

Content Moderator

As a Content Moderator, you will be tasked with reviewing and evaluating content to determine whether it is appropriate for a specific audience. This course will help you build a foundation in digital literacy and public policy, ensuring you can effectively navigate the complex landscape of content moderation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Moderator

Journalist

As a Journalist, you will be responsible for researching and writing articles on a specific topic for a specific audience. This course will help you build a foundation in digital literacy and journalistic ethics, ensuring you can effectively research and write articles that are both informative and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Web Developer

As a Web Developer, you will be responsible for designing and developing websites and web applications. This course may be useful for helping you understand the technical aspects of the internet and how to build websites that are both user-friendly and effective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Lawyer

As a Lawyer, you will be responsible for providing legal advice to clients and representing them in court. This course may be useful for helping you understand the legal implications of technology and the internet, which can be helpful in a variety of legal practice areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer