Project Look Sharp hosted it’s annual Media Literacy Summer Institute this past July which attracted 18 educators from a variety of institutions. Participants visited from across the U.S., and one attendee came from as far as India. This five-day course immersed educators from all levels in the practice of critical thinking, media analysis and media production.
Cyndy Scheibe, Chris Sperry, Roger Seville and Armin Heurich led participants through an extensive examination of media literacy. Afternoon sessions provided the attendees with the opportunity to get hands on training with media productions, as well as individualized sessions to deepen their knowledge of digital production tools. Morning and afternoon sessions were connected through discussion and exploration of the web. Activities included learning about blogs, wikis, presentation software and Google drive. The goal of the series was to have participants use their critical thinking to evaluate media sources, recognize sources of bias, and effectively decode media messages.
In regards to the training, one participant observed, “These are certainly concepts that I can take into my classroom and build into our new curriculum. I acquired a lot of new language with which to discuss media.”
Tools that were taught are vital to understanding media literacy. The hope among the presenters was that the attendees would be able to incorporate the lessons into their classrooms and spread the knowledge to their students. The series also offered attendees the chance to work individually with the facilitators to create a customized media literacy implementation plan for their classroom. They then presented their plans to the group at the end of the session, which allowed for feedback as well as comments from their peers.
When informational sessions were not taking place, participants had the opportunity to explore the beauty of Ithaca, NY. With the multiple array of options to choose from, participants were always busy. Whether it was exploring the gorges, the commons, or dining at one of the many restaurants that Ithaca has to offer - there was certainty something for everyone! At the end of the workshop, participants also received a copy of “Teacher’s Guide to Media Literacy”, co-written by Project Look Sharp Director Cyndy Scheibe.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20140929091702483