Ithaca College

Project Look Sharp will host a free webinar, “Media Construction of Presidential Campaigns,” from 7–8 p.m. EST Nov. 3 as a part of Media Literacy Week. 

Sox Sperry, Project Look Sharp’s primary curriculum writer, will lead participants on an exploration of high school lessons covering media representations of U.S. presidential elections from 1800–2008. The media and lessons will be drawn from the popular Presidential Campaigns curriculum kit, which is available free online at projectlooksharp.org.    

The webinar will offer high school educators and teachers-in-training pedagogical techniques and free curriculum materials to support a deeper understanding of how to use a wide variety of media forms across the historical spectrum — media from 19th century portraits, songs and handbills, to 21st century websites, Twitter and email — to study historical context and to question their credibility. The presenter will also focus on the Key Concepts for Media Analysis. Participants will leave with handouts and other tools to integrate media literacy into their curriculum design.    

Media Literacy Week, which is hosted by the National Association of Media Literacy Education, takes place Nov. 2–6. Organizations across the U.S. will be hosting events to build media literacy awareness and encourage the integration of media literacy in education. Other events sponsored by NAMLE occurring that week include a webinar about respect in the digital world and a presentation about being mindful when producing content.     

For more information and to register for the webinar go to:   http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=puivi6cab&oeidk=a07ebmb8w3kd6cb0f36      

You can email us at looksharp@ithaca.edu or contact us by phone at 607-274-3471. This webinar will be archived on the Project Look Sharp webinar site for those who cannot participate during the live event.    

Project Look Sharp is Ithaca College’s Media Literacy Initiative. Project Look Sharp supports the integration of critical thinking through media literacy in school curriculum and teaching. 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.