How Online Social
Innovation Tools Can Revive
Civic Engagement
By Laura Kelly
For Dr. Greene
A-CAPS 4360
The Past
The Changes
The Other Factors
Work
without
Borders
The Throne
of Self
The Result
The Impact on Politics and
Civic Engagement
• Loss of collective vision
• ‘Less about solutions and
more about posturing’
- Carl Boggs
• Disillusionment
• Disengagement
Democratic Deficit
• Of all of the
developed nations,
the US is one of the
least civically
engaged.
Local Democratic Deficit
Travis County Voter Participation
My Premise
Citizens would engage if:
• they could do so online at their
convenience
• the data was digestible (visual)
• their input was utilized
• the process was fun
(and not painful!)
‘Game’ Tool Overview
• ‘Players’ (citizens) choose ‘teams’ (issues)
• Work collaboratively to build ‘playbook’
(solution framework)
• Work is done iteratively
over specific period of time
Energy
Public Education
Transportation
Health Care
Immigration
 Watch the ‘Game Film’
(graphic overview of the issue)
‘Scout the Players’
(get to know the players, other positions)
‘Strength(sensitivity)Training’
(watch videos of neighbors and others who hold different
views or who have concerns that need to be pondered)
Add your ‘Highlight Videos’
(post your thoughts, ideas, concerns)
Post your ‘Stats’
(info and picture, ‘position’ you usually play)
‘Draft a Player’
(do you know someone whose skills who would
be helpful? recruit them to be a part of your team)
Team Collaboration
 Create your ‘Game Strategy’
(poke others via facebook)
 ‘Huddle Up!’
(gather your players for some face-to-face
time or find a huddle near you)
 Draft your
‘Play Book’
Run It by the Officials
(Policy Wonks, Economists, and Entrepreneurs)
• Are there flags?
(strong concerns)
• Still have ‘yards to go’?
(bases uncovered or major
elements not addressed)?
Take Your Team to the Playoffs
Gather your fans
(those who “Like!” your ‘Play Book’)
Certain # of “Likes” to make it to playoffs
‘Weighted value’
x 2 Hardcore Fans (have seen ‘Game Film’
and have ‘Scouted the Players’)
X 1 Everyday Fans (have only seen ‘Game Film’)
Rules of the Game
 Can be ‘benched’ for flagrant fouls
(3 complaints of digressing into insults or cursing)
 May request a ‘review from the official’
(will check their post/blog record)
 Can be reinstated after a penalty
 Can be ‘ejected from the game’ for 1 more
violation
Your team’s ‘Playbook’ is presented
to the Legislative Select Committee
as a community-built solution
Collaborative Gaming Success
Fold It
Unite and Innovate Online
*No need to remain confined by the media created
boxes of politics, class, and religion