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

Encyclopedias For Youth Must Contain AV Emphasis An appraisal of The World Book Ericyrlopedia, 20 volumes including, "Reading and Study Guide." Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, Chicago, 1961. No successful encyclopedia intende.l for use by young people in school, library and at home can be a source of information without also being an audiovisual tool of instruction and learning. The editors and publishers of The World Book Encyclopedia, thoroughly aware of this fundamental truism, have long been dedicated to the high goal of maintaining their publication as a most effective audiovisual educational tool for use by these young people. To view any such extensive work through the child's eye (and to hear it through his ear) and thus to approach appraisal through the child's mind is almost impossible. But children using it tell of the many advantages gained through such use, iiicluding immediate ease of finding information, sensible and understandable cross-indexing and above all suitability of both language and material. That the well developed encyclopedia designed for student use must be an audiovisual tool as well as a library tool is little discussed but is accepted as a fundamental truth because the upper elementary school and junior high school student is still associating sound and sight to achieve learning. The editors of this encyclopedia approach the task of supplying reliable information to young people from this standpoint and they have astutely chosen illustrations, diagrams, maps and charts to accompany selected 'audible' language to the end that student comprehension may be readily achieved. The alleged audiovisualist wholly and solely interested in the machinery of his field, the unimaginative gadgeteer who limits himself to being a pseudo-administrator and technician will be unable to find much of value in this series of volumes to justify tlieir serious consideration as audiovisual instructional tools. But such individuals are happily disappearing or at least have been far overshadowed by their more imaginative contemporaries. Hence the legion of audiovisualists who serve ably as instructional materials guides and instructional materials consultants need look no further for an excellent audiovisual device and material in this form. New Type of Illustration A notable innovation of recent years in The World Book Encyclopedia is the 'transvision' illustration involviiig clear acetate sheets printed in full color and so arranged that information is applied and superimposed upon information in an additive procedure in the same manner that sensitive and effective teachers emjjloy the versatile overhead projector and a series of overlays to indicate a variety of essential knowledges in appropriate; order. This, as applied to the field of pubhshing, is a remarkable contribution to the child's opportunity to see, to comprehend and to relate seemingly dissociated data. In the current i.ssue imder examination the human body and the frog are thus treated, and it is hoped that future editions will expand this treatment of readily visualized information. Maps and charts designed for immediate study and close examination are available to the student in great number. The editors have chosen the Lambert Conformal Conic Projection for many area maps, and these have been created for the publication by Rand McNally. Oblique Cylindrical Projection maps are used in some instances, as are Conic Projection maps. In all instances, however, tlie relation of the flat presentation to the curved surface of the globe is portrayed as accurately as possible. Color diagrams add much to the visual presentation. Certain of the 'how-to-do-it' sections, specifically oriented to youthful readers and accordingly appropriately illustrated, are of particular value. The audiovisualist will want to study these for recommendation to classroom teachers and supervisors for inclusion in study plans as well as for student reference. The editors have selected an open, easil\ read, sans-serif type face which will contribute to student ease in using the volumes. Bold face type is used to identify separate topics as well as major subjects within larger study areas with great effectiveness, making it easy for the student to find (Continued on Page 296) » ''" ^\* An example of the charts used in tlic new -'World Book Encyclopedia." 270 Educational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — June, 1961