Books in Digital and Information Literacy series

It's a common word to hear these dayscrowdfunding. Websites such as Kickstarter and Patreon are bringing businesses and creators together with donators and investors. This guide explains the basics of how crowdfunding works. This title will inform readers of how Kickstarter, the worlds largest crowdfunding platform, works and about some of the projects it has made possible. All the steps readers need to follow to start a Kickstarter campaign or create content and find supporters on Patreon are covered in depth. Furthermore, the text uncovers well-known campaigns and contentand teaches readers how to bring their own ideas to life.

The digital age has brought with it new and exciting ways to communicate with others. Vlogsthat is, video blogseducate, entertain, and persuade viewers the world over. This title teaches readers how established vloggers work their magic. Readers are encouraged to brainstorm ideas for their own vlogs and get steps for writing, filming, editing, and marketing their content. Tips for more professional scripts, lighting, sound, and editing are also covered. Readers will also learn about what methods to take to gain followers and media attention, and become an informed vlogger.

These days, pictures, music, schoolwork, business documents, and all kinds of personal information are stored digitally. As the uses of computers, tablets, and smart phones expand, the loss of data due to user error, computer malfunctions, or deliberate theft has become a bigger problem than ever before. This title explores what is meant by bit rot and how it can affect users of technology. It also verses readers on the best ways to protect and store their data. Computer files, e-books, mp3s, and digital photographs aren't going away any time soon. This guide helps reader keep what matters to them safe and secure.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If thats true, then what are a thousand pictures worth? Today, with the use of mobile smartphones and similar devices containing miniaturized cameras, snapping and sharing photos has never been easieror more commonplace. Playing around with photo and video apps like Instagram, Vine, Flickr, and Snapchat has become a natural part of teenage life. But along with the fun comes responsibility. This volume guides readers through simple steps for using photo and video apps and offers ideas for unleashing creativity. It also addresses the potential risks of using these apps, such as cyberbullying, and suggests a code of conduct that should be enforced whenever anyone snaps and shares.

Disinformation is as old as lying. Today, the Internet is moving toxic information faster than ever, to more people than ever, making it potentially more harmful than ever. Fortunately, the Internet can also furnish the antidote––facts. In this compelling volume, readers discover what the scope of disinformation is, why people distort facts, who the masters of disinformation are and how their methods work, the difference between fact and opinion, and how to develop skills to deal with the distortion of facts online. Whether people are doing research work, making everyday decisions, shopping, or just browsing, it pays to recognize digital dishonesty. There are lots of tools that help people separate fact from deception, and new ones are appearing every day. This cogent book aids readers in finding and using these tools.

Everyone needs to be aware of the kind of information that is left behind when one uses technology—whether it’s a smartphone or laptop—and the Internet. This volume enables readers to enhance their academic reputations online. They learn what constitutes an academic digital footprint and how various employers and institutions use the Web to research people they might want to hire, admit to college, or offer an internship to. Readers examine how to evaluate their digital footprints, strengthen them, and protect their privacy. They learn approaches for promoting their academic achievements, interests, and volunteer experiences. Starting an educational blog, participating in online writing contests, compiling an ePortfolio, and writing about charitable community causes are just some of the activities teens can use to build a positive online presence.

The rise of the Internet has brought with it many changes to our culture. It has widened the span of communication. Readers explore the still very new world of citizen journalism that has developed with people’s ability to report news in an instant. Questions such as what defines a journalist, how can a regular citizen gain the necessary credibility to report the news, and more are answered.

In the last decade, technology has grown and changed to the point where many people don't have secrets anymore. It's all out there on the Web. Readers take an in-depth look at privacy online and discover why is it important to maintain their privacy, how to go about that, and what impact the law can have on the decisions they make online today and tomorrow.

Databases allow anyone to meticulously organize and maintain their information. Police departments, airports, librariesnearly every organization that wants to make sense of large amounts of information utilizes databases. This book takes often-complex information and makes it simple and accessible for the reader. It provides students with a solid understanding on this fascinating topic, and will guide the reader through the basics of how to get a start on database design.

It has become almost impossible to imagine a world without Google, the most popular and powerful Internet search engine that as revolutionized the way we seek and locate information. This book seeks to show students how to get the most out of Googlewith its search engine, maps, videos, news, docs, and email featureswhen working on school projects, research papers, and multimedia presentations. Google helps users navigate through this bewildering universe of knowledge, but this book will provide readers with a greater degree of guidance, showing them how to harness Google's various abilities to locate exactly what they're looking for. Discussions of online netiquetteincluding the avoidance of cyberbullying, plagiarism, and inappropriate contentround out the discussion.