Understanding Digital Literacies: A Practical Introduction

Assuming no knowledge of linguistics, Understanding Digital Literacies provides an accessible and timely introduction to new media literacies for university students. It supplies readers with the theoretical and analytical tools with which to explore the linguistic and social impact of a host of new digital practices. Each chapter in the volume covers a different topic, presenting an overview of the major concepts, issues, problems and debates surrounding the topic, while also encouraging students to reflect on and critically evaluate their own language and communication practices. Features of the book include: An assortment of real-life examples to illustrate each topic, drawn from contexts relevant to students from around the world, and discussing a diverse range of media tools and practices including blogging, hypertextual organisation, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, websites, games and texting.A variety of discussion questions and mini-ethnographic research projects involving student exploration of various patterns of media and communication in peer group scenarios, such as Wikinomics and peer production, social networking and civic participation, and digital literacies at work Suggestions for further reading and reviews of key terms and concepts covered in every chapter, including hypertextual linking, multimodality, online language and social interaction, attention structures, social networking, online interaction and intercultural communication. A companion website providing links to useful websites and blogs, interactive exercises, stories about new literacies and interviews with researchers in the field This book will provide a key resource for undergraduate and graduate students studying courses in new media and digital literacies.

“'Finally, a definitive user's guide for the fast changing world of digital media and digital literacies. Understanding Digital Literacies: A practical introduction is lucid, entertaining, spot on, and, while practical indeed, is wholly a theoretically sophisticated and empirically trustworthy guide.' - James Paul Gee, Arizona State University, USA 'Understanding Digital Literacies is an excellent introduction to this newly emerging field, providing a comprehensive guide to the concepts needed to understand the area. Enthusiastically written, the book addresses the reader directly and is clearly illustrated with detailed case studies.' - David Barton, Lancaster University, UK 'This highly readable and incisively argued volume represents a milestone contribution to better understanding communication in late modernity. The authors provide theoretically astute and empirically rich coverage of digital literacies in a wide array of new media contexts. The text is rich with examples, provides a variety of exercises and project types for students, and includes comprehensive suggestions for additional reading and investigation. This book is an invaluable resource for students and teachers engaged in literacy studies, applied linguistics, digital cultures research, and exploration of new media as they relate to workplaces, education, and social life.' - Steven L. Thorne, Portland State University, USAand University of Groningen, the Netherlands 'Impressively broad in the information that it provides while not oversimplifying the complex issues covered... A valuable contribution to advanced undergraduate or graduate courses that provide a multidisciplinary perspective on this complex and widely researched issue.' - LINGUIST List”

"Finally, a definitive user’s guide for the fast changing world of digital media and digital literacies. Understanding Digital Literacies: A practical introduction is lucid, entertaining, spot on, and, while practical indeed, is wholly a theoretically sophisticated and empirically trustworthy guide." James Paul Gee, Arizona State University, USA

"Understanding Digital Literacies is an excellent introduction to this newly emerging field, providing a comprehensive guide to the concepts needed to understand the area. Enthusiastically written, the book addresses the reader directly and is clearly illustrated with detailed case studies." David Barton, Lancaster University, UK

"This highly readable and incisively argued volume represents a milestone contribution to better understanding communication in late modernity. The authors provide theoretically astute and empirically rich coverage of digital literacies in a wide array of new media contexts. The text is rich with examples, provides a variety of exercises and project types for students, and includes comprehensive suggestions for additional reading and investigation. This book is an invaluable resource for students and teachers engaged in literacy studies, applied linguistics, digital cultures research, and exploration of new media as they relate to workplaces, education, and social life." Steven L. Thorne, Portland State University, USA and University of Groningen, The Netherlands

'.. I found myself being almost disturbingly enthusiastic about the subject of digital literacy whilst reading this book.' - Journal of Pedagogic Development

While much of the research around digital technologies tends to be polarised between dystopian and utopian visions, Understanding Digital Literacies is able to cut a path through the middle. It gives both sides of the debate and then describes the skills and thinking needed to bridge these seemingly incompatible discourses. The accessible writing and clear and practical structure means it is suitable for young adult students, but it also has enough substance and complexity to extend the knowledge of those more familiar with this area of study.' - English in Australia

'Finally, a definitive user’s guide for the fast changing world of digital media and digital literacies. Understanding Digital Literacies: A practical introduction is lucid, entertaining, spot on, and, while practical indeed, is wholly a theoretically sophisticated and empirically trustworthy guide.' – James Paul Gee, Arizona State University, USA

'Understanding Digital Literacies is an excellent introduction to this newly emerging field, providing a comprehensive guide to the concepts needed to understand the area. Enthusiastically written, the book addresses the reader directly and is clearly illustrated with detailed case studies.' – David Barton, Lancaster University, UK

'This highly readable and incisively argued volume represents a milestone contribution to better understanding communication in late modernity. The authors provide theoretically astute and empirically rich coverage of digital literacies in a wide array of new media contexts. The text is rich with examples, provides a variety of exercises and project types for students, and includes comprehensive suggestions for additional reading and investigation. This book is an invaluable resource for students and teachers engaged in literacy studies, applied linguistics, digital cultures research, and exploration of new media as they relate to workplaces, education, and social life.' – Steven L. Thorne, Portland State University, USA and University of Groningen, the Netherlands

'Impressively broad in the information that it provides while not oversimplifying the complex issues covered... A valuable contribution to advanced undergraduate or graduate courses that provide a multidisciplinary perspective on this complex and widely researched issue.' - LINGUIST List

Rodney H. Jones is Associate Head and Associate Professor in the Department of English at City University of Hong Kong Christoph A. Hafner is Assistant Professor in the Department of English at City University of Hong Kong

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