Tips for Decoding

Tips for finding rich media documents and for leading a decoding.

6 Key Concepts in Media Analysis

Key concepts to be aware of to practice critical thinking when evaluating media messages.

Key Questions To Ask When Producing Media Messages

Graphic display of media production questions related to audience & authorship, messages & meanings, and representations & reality.

Key Questions to Ask When Analyzing Media Messages

Graphic display of questions related to audience & authorship, messages & meanings and representations & reality.

12 Basic Ways to Integrate Media Literacy and Critical Thinking into Any Curriculum

This booklet is designed for teachers and support staff at all grade levels who are interested in using media literacy in their classroom curriculum. The approaches are based on the concept of weaving media literacy training into the curriculum whenever and wherever possible throughout the school year. Routine integration is much more effective than simply treating media literacy as a special, isolated topic and may better meet the needs of teachers who are already at capacity with the demands of a full curriculum.

NAMLE Core Principles of Media Literacy Education in the U.S.

NAMLE is excited to offer to educators, advocates and allies these Core Principles of Media Literacy Education in the United States. We believe that these Core Principles articulate a common ground around which media literacy educators and advocates can coalesce. NAMLE is committed to using the Core Principles as a springboard for vibrant and ongoing dialogue, and as a first step in the development of clear, measurable outcomes and benchmarks for U.S. schools.

Consulting

Project Looksharp personnel are available for coaching and consulting about media literacy in K-12 and teacher education, including ways to integrate media literacy into an existing curriculum, use media literacy with particular student populations (e.g., English as a second langauge or at-risk students), or build media literacy offerings into staff development within a school district.

Critical Thinking & the News

Democracy requires an educated and literate citizenship. This 2-hour workshop provides guidelines and strategies for training our students to consistently assess the credibility, accuracy, and bias of various news sources.

Youth Culture and New Technologies

Wikis, Facebook, Twitter, Texting, Gaming. How and why are students using new communication media, what are our concerns, and what are the implications for our classrooms? This 2-hour (exposure) to full-day (hands on) workshop will explore literacy for the 21st century.

Secondary Social Studies Integration with Curriculum Kits

This training will provide content and materials that enable teachers to reach both high achieving and traditionally disengaged students through use of Project Look Sharp curriculum materials that teach core social studies content and skills. The workshop will cover classroom decoding methods using key concepts and questions for media analysis, teaching 21st century critical thinking skills (e.g. identifying sourcing, credibility, and bias), and issues of copyright, accessing media documents, and assessment.

Integrating Media Literacy and Critical Thinking into the Curriculum

This popular interactive workshop introduces the theory and practice of media literacy integration throughout the curriculum, emphasizing the development of critical thinking and analysis skills. It can be adapted to address the needs of a mixed group of K-12 educators, or focus on a specific target audience (e.g., middle school ELA and social studies, librarians, elementary health). Participants will receive materials and learn approaches that can be immediately used in the classroom or other educational context.

Integrating Common Core Standards across the Curriculum with Critical Thinking and 21st Century Literacies

This dynamic full-day workshop will expand participants’ understanding of literacy and deepen their ability to engage all students in active learning through the inquiry-based analysis of diverse fiction and nonfiction media documents. Participants will walk away with materials, strategies and a plan for developing Common Core literacy skills while teaching content-area knowledge. This workshop can be designed for a specific audience (e.g., secondary social studies, ELA and/or science teachers, elementary school teachers, librarians, PD specialists) or a mixed group of K-12 educators.

Teaching about the Middle East through Media Literacy

Related to kit: Media Constructions of the Middle East

This webinar explores the role that Media Literacy, Project-Based Learning and Lesson Design can play in motivating and engaging all students in deep scholarship, critical thinking and personal growth. Viewers are introduced to lesson models from the Project Look Sharp curriculum kit, Media Construction of the Middle East, a video demonstration of the classroom media decoding process, a sample of a student simulated Middle East peace conference, and how teachers can teach key content while addressing common core standards in social studies and speaking and listening.

Abolitionists on Film

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to teach about arguments for the abolition of slavery and the tactics used by abolitionists.

"A Long Time Ago & Today" Comic Book Panel

Students analyze a comic book panel for messages about conquistadors, Ronald Reagan's support for the El Salvadoran military and about target audience in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Friend or Foe?”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

“Hell, No, We Won’t Go!”: Muhammad Ali and Antiwar Choices

Students analyze a poster and a magazine cover for messages about Muhammad Ali, conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War and about historical context and interpretation of artistic intent in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Peace is the Way”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

Henry David Thoreau and Civil Disobedience

Students analyze a book cover and a poster for messages about Henry David Thoreau, civil disobedience and about editorial choices in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Working For Peace Working for Justice”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

Passenger Pigeon Memorial Webpage

Students analyze a webpage for messages about the last passenger pigeon and about benefit and harm in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

Christine Jorgensen: 1970 Film Poster & 2010 Webpage

Students analyze a 1970 film poster and a 2010 webpage for messages about early transgender choice and about what makes media messages sensational or sympathetic. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Out and Affirmed." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

Bisexual Resource Center Webpage

Students analyze a web page for messages about bisexuality and about the use of visual symbols to convey identity. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Out and Affirmed." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.