ELECTHINK (Election Education and Critical Thinking) for Strengthening Civic Engagement among Generation Z
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252285Keywords:
Civic engagement, Generation Z, Political literacy, Critical thinkingAbstract
Introduction: This research addressed the declining civic engagement among Generation Z, particularly their limited political literacy and critical thinking skills in electoral processes. Theoretical frameworks of civic education and empirical data showing low youth voter turnout rates highlighted the urgent need for innovative educational interventions to strengthen democratic participation among digital natives. Objective : This research aims to produce learning media for civic education that promotes citizen engagement as a key driver of its development. With this product, the research aims to create an ideal alternative intervention to strengthen political engagement. Method: The study employed a research and development approach, utilizing mixed-methods design to develop and evaluate an educational application. This methodology integrates factual measurements which are then analyzed according to an experimental test approach to create product-based solutions to increase community engagement. Result: The research produced three key outcomes. First, the needs analysis revealed significant gaps in Generation Z's political literacy levels, with particular deficiencies in understanding electoral systems and critical evaluation of political information. Second, the application design incorporated gamification elements, interactive learning modules, and real-time fact-checking features tailored to Generation Z's digital preferences and learning patterns. Third, effectiveness testing demonstrated statistically significant improvements in participants' political knowledge, critical thinking abilities, and civic engagement intentions following application usage. Conclusion: The ELECTHINK application proved effective in enhancing Generation Z's civic engagement through targeted educational interventions. The research contributed to civic education literature by demonstrating how technology-mediated learning can address contemporary challenges in political literacy and democratic participation among young citizens.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Leni Anggraeni, Sri Wahyuni Tanshzil, Sandey Tantra Paramitha, Tarekh Febriana Putra, Abdul Azis, Pipin Firdaus, Nina Jermaina (Author)
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