Project Look Sharp

Not AI Generated – Podcast Episode: Media Literacy, AI, and Constructivist Media Decoding with Project Look Sharp

In this episode of the podcast Not AI Generated, host Priya Sirohi, PhD, Assistant Professor of Writing in the Writing Department, Director of the Writing Center, and a faculty facilitator for the Ethics section of Ithaca College’s AI Digital Literacy Institute, speaks with Dr. Cyndy Scheibe and Chris Sperry of Project Look Sharp. Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Excellence at Ithaca College, the conversation explores the origins, mission, and evolution of Project Look Sharp, the internationally recognized media literacy initiative founded at Ithaca College in 1996.

https://www.projectlooksharp.org/blog/2026/07/06/not-ai-generated-episode-media-literacy-ai-and-constructivist-media-decoding-with-project-look-sharp/

New from Project Look Sharp: Fresh Lessons for Today’s Media Landscape.

Looking for timely, engaging ways to build students’ media literacy skills? Project Look Sharp has four new lessons ready to go—each designed to help students ask critical questions about the media they see every day.

Internet Safety – Upper Elementary
Students examine Google image search results for “Internet safety” and “kids,” unpacking the messages, intended audiences, and construction techniques behind what looks like simple guidance.

Popcorn Physics – High School & College
What can popcorn teach us about science—and media? Students compare two short videos to explore authorship, purpose, and the difference between primary and secondary sources of scientific information.

Decoding Social Media Claims for an Energy Drink – Middle & High School
Students take a closer look at a short video ad, analyzing health-related claims, persuasive techniques, and credibility in social media advertising.

Maps and the Mapmaker’s Perspective – Upper Elementary & Middle School
Using four world maps, students investigate how mapmakers’ perspectives shape what we see—and what we don’t.

Each lesson brings media decoding into real-world contexts, helping students build the habits of inquiry they need to navigate today’s information environment.

Find them all at https://www.projectlooksharp.org/

Looking for a meaningful way to help students navigate today’s complex media landscape? This new lesson from Project Look Sharp engages high school and college students in comparing news coverage of the same event, identifying bias, and reflecting on their own interpretations. With structured prompts and guidance for handling sensitive topics, it’s a strong tool for building media literacy and critical thinking skills in the classroom. Explore it here:

Project Look Sharp Description for Project Look Sharp website