Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

FILMSTRIPS by Irene F. Cypher We approach the season when festivals are in the air— galas, viewings, votings, awardings, etc. Now there is nothing wrong in acknowledging work well done, and it is always laudable to note when an earnest, sincere creator of materials achieves acclaim for hours of thought and creative energy. But a persistent little imp keeps knocking at our thought door, asking in muted tones, "Just what are the standards basic to all this ado over awards?" And he follows this with another gentle (juestion, "Who set up these standards and where can I get a copy of them?" Sometimes it would make very interesting reading to peruse such data (if you could find it). Where, for instance, are the words of wisdom that tell us what makes a good filmstrip? Good for what purposes? Good for what groups? Good for what age levels? And does age level make a difference in what constitutes good? Somehow we have always thought that age level interests were quite a factor in determining goodness. It would also seem possible to hazard a guess that artistic techniques had something to do with the creation of pictures pleasing to eyes and at the same time good for puqjoses of instructing the mind. Without seeming critically destructive we wish further to say that even the acquisition of an award does not do away with the necessity for previewing before using! No tailor ever made a coat to suit all figures; no filmstrip we have ever seen to date will automatically suit all classes and individuals. It is still advisable to view and select in terms of your own situation and pupil needs. First Experiments With Air (5 strips, color; produced by lam Handv Organi2ation. 2821 East Grand Blvd., Detroit 11, Michigan; $26.2.5 per set, $5.7.5 single strips). Air is probably something so essential we tend to take it for granted. As the experiments in' luded in this .scries show ns, all living filings need air; air is everywhere; air li'lps things to float in water, and air is real. These facts are explained in simple terms especially selected to 'iflp the primary grader think through , what lie already knows about air and stimulate him to try some experiments that will add new facts to his store of information. The filmstrips can be used to prepare for the experiments and can be used while they are in process, for the (juestions included will serve to make the young pupil understand what he is doing. Very good for the primary grade science classes, and well outlined for these grades. Mrs. Cottontail And Her Springtime Family and Mr. And Mrs. Robin And Their Springtime Family (2 single strips, color; produced by Society for Visual Education, 134.5 Diversey Parkway, Chicago 14, 111.; $5 each). The titles of each of these strips are clearly indicative of the purpose— to show how a mother cottontail rabbit builds and cares for the nest for her young, and the way in which a robin family similarly builds and cares for their nest of young robins. We are shown the contrast between winter and summer homes in each instance; we also see how the young rabbits and robins grow, how they are fed and how they learn to care for themselves. The illustrations will appeal to young viewers and should stimulate considerable discussion about the habits and ways of animals and birds. Judah The Prince (single strip, color; produced by The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, 838 Fifth Ave., New York 21, N. Y.; $7.50). The sub-title of this strip is "Teacher of Law," and it is interesting to note how the producers have emphasized the role of Judah as a lawyer and a teacher of the law. The strip is intended for adult education groups and as such has a maturity of presentation well suited for the purpose. The story content of the strip deals with the books of the Mishnah; the strip could therefore be used to help in understanding how the great religious books helped men to prepare civil laws and community legal guides. The color used in the pictures is rich and adds to the visual appeal of the story material. Filmstrips should be used in more adult learning situations, and this is a very good example of one intended for such groups. Market of the Sixties (single strip, color, with 33 '/a record; produced by Life Filmstrips, Rockefeller Center, New York, also from Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Wilmette, 111.; $7.50 for strip and record). Charts and graphs dealing with such items as population changes, business trends and economic facts have sometimes been dull. This filmstrip utilizes some very interesting art work and photographs to make such facts both vivid and meaningful. We see what happens to national investment in research and social development projects. One interesting sequence shows what we may reasonably expect in the You Are while V^^r^^^^M presenting ^^^^^J Audio^HH^^^^^H Visual programs DARKENING I & SHADES Finest materials— decorative colors Made to fit any size windows Guaranteed for 10 years Used throughout the United States since 1917 Write for literature and fabric samples. They're free. FORSE MANUFACTURING COMPANY 2347 Sullivan Ave. • St. Louis 7, Mo. KnucATioNAL Screen and Audiovisual Guide — April, 1961 193