Developing Digital Literacy

In the 21st century, having a website has become a sign of legitimacy. Businesses, job seekers, entertainers, and more all have websites that tell people who they are and what they do. Websites have transformed from a novelty in the 1990s to a requirement today. Learning how to make a website is an essential skill that will have great benefits for students as they forge their careers. Through engaging sidebars and eye-catching graphic organizers, readers learn what options they have when it comes to creating a web presence for themselves.

Thermostats that adjust themselves, refrigerators that notify their owners when the food inside them is about to expire, a robotic assistant that can set alarms and answer almost any question-all of these things would have seemed impossible only a few decades ago. However, thanks to rapidly advancing technological developments, these and more are available to the average citizen. As technology becomes increasingly incorporated in everyday objects, knowing how to use it is becoming a crucial skill. Vivid photographs and in-depth sidebars augment the engaging main text, giving readers an exciting learning experience.

When YouTube was first launched in 2005, the site immediately started attracting visitors. Two years later, it created a program that allowed people to get paid for their content. Today, many people have made YouTube their full-time career. However, even people who do not intend to become professional vloggers can benefit from having a YouTube channel. Through in-depth sidebars and full-color photographs, readers learn the basics of creating and maintaining a channel while staying safe online. A list of books and websites provides a jumping-off point for further independent research.

Misinformation is rampant on the internet. Memes are passed around as if they represent real facts, people with an agenda share false or misleading statistics, and anyone can pretend they are an expert on any topic. Due to all of this, learning how to be critical of what is being presented has become one of the most important skills a person can cultivate. This volume utilizes informative sidebars and detailed graphic organizers to discuss the steps readers can take to verify the information they read, hear, or see.