Digital and Media Literacy in the Age of the Internet

Today’s educators are confronted on a daily basis with the challenges of navigating digital resources, tools and technologies with their students. They are often unprepared for the complexities of these challenges or might not be sure how to engage their students safely and responsibly. This book serves as a comprehensive guide for educators looking to make informed decisions and navigate digital spaces with their students. The author sets the stage for educators who may not be familiar with the digital world that their students live in, including the complexities of online identities, digital communities and the world of social media. With deep dives into how companies track us, how the Internet works, privacy and legal concerns tied to today’s digital technologies, strategies for analyzing images and other online sources, readers will gain knowledge about how their actions and choices can affect students’ privacy as well as their own. Each chapter is paired with detailed lessons for elementary, middle and high school students to help guide educators in implementing what they have learned into the classroom.

Digital and Media Literacy in the Age of the Internet provides guidance for teachers who recognize they have had a very different learning experience than their students. There are statistics on screen time, social media use, what you should watch out for, and ways to support young people in becoming responsible content creators. There’s advice on what you should know about privacy, laws, and holding companies accountable. There’s information on topics such the implications of teaching with technological developments like the Internet of Things. There’s also material to help teachers understand and explain to parents what their children should know at each grade level. This includes essential questions written in plain language to help guide student learning. Mary Beth Hertz’s book provides practical examples, lessons, research, and the benefits and challenges teachers face in the exciting and always-changing landscape of digital teaching and learning., With thorough research and practical lesson ideas, Mary Beth Hertz gives educators a foundation for building media literacy skills in today’s classroom., As the education space becomes increasingly crowded and confused with advice on the best ways to teach in the digital age, Mary Beth’s work stands out in relief. Instead of acronyms and buzz phrases, this book delivers straightforward definitions and instruction based off the edtech gold standards from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). From fake news to students’ privacy, educators should consider this a terrific primer for dealing with digital literacy.

Mary Beth Hertz has been teaching young people for over 15 years. She has been on the forefront of technology integration in the classroom through local, national and global connections with other educators and leaders in the educational technology field for the last decade.