Online Learning Models for Citizen Academies on Transportation

Virtual citizen academies are a useful tool in the planner’s toolbox. This paper describes virtual citizen academies and addresses how they support public engagement and community cocreation goals in an increasingly virtual world. The results from the 2021 and 2022 program evaluations of the Tampa Bay Citizens Academy on Transportation (TB-CAT) are used to demonstrate the benefits and limitations of online platforms for citizen academies. TB-CAT was a free 8-week course to familiarize City of Tampa residents with transportation in the city. This academy was initially designed as an in-person course, but to reduce the risk of exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide additional flexibility for participants, TB-CAT was changed from a face-to-face course to a virtual course. Through the TB-CAT evaluations and the experiences of the TB-CAT facilitators, it was evident that online platforms can expand the reach of citizen academies to interested community members and help agencies accomplish public engagement and community cocreation goals. However, they also indicated that intentional and consistent efforts are needed to ensure that all community members, including individuals living in rural areas, can receive the full benefit of online academies. The information provided in this paper provides insights into agencies as they consider how education and technology can be integrated into public engagement practices.