A proposal based on social media networks for the development of active citizenship competencies among middle and high school students

Abstract

The current study aims to design a proposal based on social networks to develop the competencies of active citizenship among middle and high school students. The descriptive and analytical method as well as a questionnaire utilized to achieve the study objectives. The sample consisted of (207) middle and high school students from Schools of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University for Educational Development. The results showed that the extent of using social media networks among the participants was medium, and the most common social media used by middle students were YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between middle and high school students for the extent of their use of social media networks. A list of required active citizenship competencies (cognitive, skill, and emotional) made and a proposal for their development designed. It consists of "objectives, general principles for the proposal, content, and team work, and the adopted educational activities and techniques. The study recommends paying more attention to the social media networks favorite by students, and benefiting from them when planning for educational programs and enrichment activities, and the need to launch young-leadership-based community initiatives to promote the concept of citizenship among young people.