Ithaca College

St Louis, MO - On November 22, Chris Sperry of Project Look Sharp will lead a workshop on Sustainability, Social Justice and Media Literacy at the National Council for Social Studies 93rd annual conference.

The presentation will be a highly engaging learning experience for participants. Throughout the session the audience will partake in observing, analyzing, and evaluating dynamic and diverse media. Following the exercises, Sperry will explain the effectiveness of a media approach in teaching core content to many different types of learners and specifically focus on how the method is especially engaging for ESL and Special Ed students. The workshop will also allow participants to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of integrating media literacy into the classroom.

For 30 years, Sperry has been teaching about social justice and sustainability in his social studies classes, and he is passionate about the work that Project Look Sharp has done to integrate media literacy and critical thinking into the curriculum. Sperry’s presentation will encourage teachers to consider the potential of how media literacy engages students of all different learning levels.

Project Look Sharp supports the integration of critical thinking and media literacy into the teaching of core content in multiple subject areas.  They do this through developing and providing lesson plans, media materials, training, and support for educators at all education levels. The purpose of media literacy education is to help individuals of all ages develop the habits of inquiry and skills of expression they need to be critical thinkers, effective communicators, and active citizens in today’s world.

Project look Sharp is Ithaca College's Media Literacy Initiative. From day one, Ithaca College prepares students for personal and professional success through hands-on experience with internships, research and study abroad. Its integrative curriculum builds bridges across disciplines and uniquely blends liberal arts and professional study. Located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, the College is home to 6,100 undergraduate and 400 graduate students and offers over 100 degree programs in its schools of Business, Communications, Humanities and Sciences, Health Science and Human Performance, and Music.