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Arts & Communication Fostering civic values through short animations

educational approaches that prioritize these aspects potential to significantly contribute to the understanding
alongside traditional academic subjects are increasingly of abstract concepts, rendering them easily applicable
valued and sought after. Consequently, there is a growing in practice. Nevertheless, in addressing the challenges
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demand for new alternative approaches that promote as aforementioned, carefully selected didactic resources
human and civic values, such as social coexistence, like short animations play a key role in the educational
peaceful communication, solidarity, participation, respect, landscape.
kindness, responsibility, tolerance, and truthfulness. 6 Considering that learning is a continuous and

In the digital age, understanding the new challenges dynamic process unfolding throughout life, specific short
in utilizing educational tools is crucial, especially in the animations can offer individuals of all ages the opportunity
advancement of social and democratic progress. In this to train and enhance their learning by engaging cognitive
context, it is essential not only to teach theoretical–practical functions. Besides, the evolving nature of technology,
foundations guiding overall education and personal particularly the influence of visual culture during a child’s
development but also to cultivate critical thinking skills to formative years, amplifies the impact of short audiovisual
access effective teaching resources. However, discussions productions. Indeed, separating them into shorter, more
regarding the incorporation of active citizenship in schools concise sentences can enhance academic clarity. Utilizing
have continued both nationally and internationally, animation techniques, these creations convey a diverse
highlighting the ongoing tension between aspirational array of genres and themes. They serve as effective didactic
goals and practical feasibility. Similarly, to efficiently resources, capturing students’ attention, fostering personal
convey educational content and messages that encourage reflection, and promoting both cooperative and individual
active, responsible, and critical youth citizenship through learning. 12
visual media, such as short animations, we must fully In light of the information provided, the term cartoon
harness the potential of these teaching tools. Moreover, or short animation may be misleading as it commonly
teaching and instilling a culture of democratic citizenship implies a connection to humor or entertainment. However,
solely through theoretical means in the primary education the concept does not necessarily incorporate satire or
stage represent a significant challenge for educators. funny topics. Short animation, in an educational context,
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Animations could effectively convey civic messages in is defined as short-duration videos on various topics and
concise time frames and facilitate the easy assimilation structures that aim not only to entertain but also to convey
of social values communicated basically through images, ideas or messages to educate the audience. Moreover, it
music, and sound. 8 has also been erroneously assumed that cartoon series

Educational institutions play a key role in instilling adapt their ethical and moral content solely based on
these civic values, empowering individuals to become their broadcasting schedule aimed at a child audience. It
responsible members of society. In this sense, the is tempting to assume that anything posted on sites like
importance of citizenship education is evident in the the YouTube Kids Channel, which primarily targets a
Spanish Framework for the Digital Competence of young audience, is universally valid. It is imperative to
Teachers, which highlights competencies for critical acknowledge that the developmental stage spanning from
citizenship skills. In addition, European education 8 to 12 years encompasses a critical period characterized
frameworks and recent educational reforms in Spain by pronounced cognitive and socioemotional maturation.
emphasize the consequences of comprehensive citizenship During this phase of evolution, children demonstrate
education that transcends knowledge acquisition. This enhanced cognitive faculties, facilitating a deeper
approach prioritizes the development of civic values, comprehension and apprehension of their surrounding
human rights, and active citizenship, as emphasized by the reality. Regardless, such misperceptions may potentially
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Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. However, yield adverse effects on the development of civic and ethical
citizenship education remains an unaddressed aspect of principles and behaviors among children, a demographic
social life and formal education. 9 highly coveted by visual content creators. For decades,
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Challenges arise in media consumption, where studies have elucidated the significant contribution of well-
numerous online contents may fail to convey suitable curated short animations to the comprehension of abstract
and educational values for children and adolescents, concepts within the realm of social sciences, as well as to
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sometimes actively promoting counterproductive values. the acquisition of essential social and civic skills.
This holds particular significance for individuals from Drawing upon the efficacy demonstrated by other visual
diverse cultures and varying geographical origins. methodologies across various educational levels, such as
In essence, short animations may have the inherent audiovisual media-based learning, short ABL emerges
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Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 3 doi: 10.36922/ac.2806