Draft:Project Look Sharp (Ithaca College)

Project Look Sharp began in 1996 through collaboration between faculty and educators at Ithaca College. Initial efforts focused on schools in upstate New York before expanding nationally and internationally. The organization then developed curriculum kits and educator workshops in response to increased interest in media literacy education.Disability Rights New York. 2020 White Paper on Media Literacy.

In the 2010s, PLS contributed to international initiatives, including a U.S. State Department-funded education project in Panama and a curriculum development program in Turkey.Riggio, Olivia. "Not All Media Literacy Programs Are Created Equal." FAIR, December 15, 2020. https://fair.org/home/not-all-media-literacy-programs-are-created-equal/

In 2021, the group launched "Librarians as Leaders for Media Literacy" (ML3) with support from the Booth-Ferris Foundation. A 2023 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services funded a national expansion plan developed with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).Institute of Museum and Library Services. "ML3 Grant Award." https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/re-254855-ols-23American Association of School Librarians. "2024 Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning." https://standards.aasl.org/best-tools

The organization uses a method called Constructivist Media Decoding, which engages students in analyzing media by posing structured questions about authorship, bias, and audience. This approach emphasizes inquiry-based learning over rote instruction.

The RAND Corporation included Project Look Sharp in its Truth Decay Resource Hub, citing its role in teaching media analysis skills.RAND Corporation. "Truth Decay Resource Hub." https://www.rand.org/research/projects/truth-decay/fight-disinformation.html The journal Social Education published a case study of CMD in the context of online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.Scheibe, Cyndy, and Chris Sperry. "Rx for an Infodemic: Media Decoding, COVID-19, and Online Teaching." Social Education, vol. 84, no. 3, May/June 2020.

CMD has been cited in several academic dissertations,Moss, Scott H. Critical Algorithmic Literacy. UCLA Dissertation. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3jf0g48hCollet-Gildard, Lauren. Critical Media Literacy in Social Studies: A Case Study. SUNY Albany Thesis. https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/legacy-etd/2655/ teacher training materials,Media Education Lab. "College Teacher Case Study." https://d10.mediaeducationlab.com/teacher-case-study-video-college and peer-reviewed publications.Smith, Julie. "Book Review: The Teacher's Guide to Media Literacy." JMLE, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 96–98. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1189&context=jmle

Project Look Sharp maintains a collection of more than 900 downloadable lessons for K–12 and postsecondary education. These lessons cover topics such as environmental issues, historical propaganda, digital literacy, and civic engagement.Project Look Sharp. "Curriculum Kits." https://www.projectlooksharp.org The New York State Education Department lists PLS in its 2025 Media Literacy Toolkit as a recommended resource for secondary and postsecondary educators.New York State Education Department. "Media Literacy Toolkit." https://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/media-literacy-toolkit.pdf

The organization offers training and professional development via webinars, conference sessions, and school-based workshops. The ML3 program provides media literacy leadership training for librarians and has been endorsed by groups such as AASL.Center for Educational Equity. "Strategic Action Plan for Media Literacy." 2024.

PLS materials have been included in several educator and library resource collections,Colorado Department of Education. "Media Literacy Resource Bank." https://www.cde.state.co.us/medialiteracy/media-literacy-resource-bankKQED. "Digital Resources for Teaching About Media." https://www.kqed.org/education/digital-resources-for-teaching-about-mediaDemocracy Toolkit. https://democracytoolkit.press/resources/emphasize-media-literacy-classroom/ and have received grant support from regional library systems.Rochester Regional Library Council. "ARPA Library Grant Award." https://rrlc.org/services/arpa

In 2008, PLS co-founder Chris Sperry received the National Council for the Social Studies Award for Global Understanding.National Council for the Social Studies. "Media Literacy Week Partner." https://www.socialstudies.org/about/ncss-partners-namle-media-literacy-week In 2024, co-founder Cyndy Scheibe was awarded the Elizabeth Thoman Service Award by the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE).NAMLE. "2024 Media Literacy Award Winners." https://mlw.namle.org/2024-media-literacy-award-winners/

The organization has been profiled in education publications such as the School Library Journal for its lesson plans and strategies related to media evaluation.School Library Journal. "Fighting the Infodemic." https://www.slj.com/story/Fighting-the-Infodemic-New-Strategies-for-News-Literacy-libraries-schools-students It has also been referenced in research published by the Erikson InstituteErikson Institute. "Media Literacy in Early Childhood." https://www.erikson.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TEC-MediaLiteracy-Report.pdf.

• Media literacy
• Digital citizenship
• Critical pedagogy
• Constructivist teaching methods

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