Ithaca College

Every year in Napa, California, an event called PBL World takes place, or Project Based Learning. Here, educators gather to empower a new generation of students through alternative project based learning techniques. This event is sponsored by the Buck Institute for Education, and allows educators to learn new techniques in project design, assessment, and management of curriculum through workshops and training sessions.

Every year in Napa, California, an event called PBL World takes place, or Project Based Learning. Here, educators gather to empower a new generation of students through alternative project based learning techniques. This event is sponsored by the Buck Institute for Education, and allows educators to learn new techniques in project design, assessment, and management of curriculum through workshops and training sessions.

On August 5-7 2014, OCM BOCES emulated this convention in Napa in Syracuse, New York at the Syracuse DoubleTree. Here, teachers and leaders were encouraged to attend workshop sessions facilitated by Buck’s Institute Faculty where they learned about bringing project-based learning into their classrooms. Keynote speakers such as Sam Chaltain, a founding director of the Five Freedoms Project and Director of the Forum for Education and Democracy started out each day, followed by shorter breakout sessions. 

Part of project-based learning relies on a focus on critical thinking skills, as a part of the 4C’s of the program. On the afternoon of Thursday August 7th, Project Look Sharp hosted a break out session that explored development of critical thinking skills through media decoding and analysis. 

According to Chris Sperry who conducted the training: "I will introduce the theory and practice of media literacy integration tied to PBL theory with examples covering K-12 and multiple subject areas.  In the 2nd half of the workshop we would  explore one project-based model for high school global studies/ELA that incorporates in depth research, use of new technologies, critical thinking and a week-long simulation (related to the Middle East) all through the lens of media literacy integration into PBL.   I will incorporate  reflection on pedagogy and decoding of  media documents throughout the interactive  workshop with time for Q&A."

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. 

###

For more information, please contact the Project Look Sharp Marketing Team at looksharp-mktg@ithaca.edu.