Project Look Sharp to host ‘Media Constructions of Martin Luther King, Jr.’ webinar

Sox Sperry, Project Look Sharp’s primary curriculum writer, will lead participants on an exploration of lessons covering media representations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a free hourlong webinar at 4 p.m. EDT on Jan. 7, 2016.

The webinar — which will feature the “Media Constructions of Martin Luther King, Jr.” kit that is available for free on the Project Look Sharp website — will offer middle and high school educators, community educators and teachers-in-training pedagogical techniques and curriculum materials to support a deeper understanding for how to use a wide variety of media documents that support content teaching about social justice movements; examine media representations of ongoing struggles against racism and the practice of nonviolence; and encourage the analysis of meanings and messages constructed about King’s life.  

The webinar will also explore media literacy goals analyzing historical context, purpose and credibility of media constructions using different media forms of King’s speeches as a means to teach common core English language arts skills in speaking, listening and reading for information. Participants will leave with handouts, lessons and other tools to immediately integrate media literacy into their curriculum design.

“Most of us only know Dr. King through media references since fewer and fewer of us have had the opportunity to hear him or to know him in person. These media constructions of Dr. King are made for particular purposes and are interpreted in different ways by media consumers,” Sperry said. “In order to understand the many meanings of Dr. King’s rich and complex life, we need to be able to ask key questions about the media constructions through which we have come to know him. Only if we learn to ask the next, deeper question can we possibly hope to come to know the real, deeper person who was Martin Luther King, Jr.”

For more information and to register for the webinar go to the registration link, 

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ebxaxf3647dee1dd&llr=puivi6cab

 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 website for those who cannot participate this time around.

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.

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.