The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 164 The Educational Screen Just published MOTION PICTURES In EDUCATION in the UNITED STATES By CLINE M. KOON Senior Specialist in Radio and Visual Education, United States Office of Education A report compiled for the International Congress of Education and Instructional Cinematography in Rome, April, 1934. A survey of use, influence, technique of making and displaying motion pic- tures, and legislation. 114 pages, Paper-bound, $1.00 ===== The University of Chicago Press == In the section devoted to Technical Film Problems appears a contribution by Dr. W. M. Gregory of Cleveland on "Narrow Width Motion Pictures." The Journal of Geography (May '34) "Modern Tendencies in the Teaching of Geography," by Maurice A. Garfinkel. In the section discussing changes in methods of teaching geography, the author says: "The study of words must give way to the study of things and facts. Pupil activity, pupil participation and pupil co-operation in the learning process are now to be the rule. These tendencies are given expression in a number of new class room procedures and in the Now Ready . . . A Visual Instruction Handbook by ELLSWORTH C. DENT Secretary of the Bureau of Visual Instruction, University of Kansas and Consultant in Visual Instruction at Brigham Young University. Approximately 100 pages of pertinent, up-to-date and useful information concerning the various types of visual instruction materials and equipment, in- tended for (I) teachers, supervisors and school executives who desire a compact review of common practice in the use of visual-sensory aids, as well as a guide to sources of materials and further informa- tian, and (2) students in visual instruction courses, whose desires should be much the same. In paper, $1.10, postpaid. In cloth, $1.60, postpaid. Orders should be directed to — Bureau of Visual Instruction Brigham Young University PROVO, UTAH (Orders for one to five copies should be accompanied by check or money order.) use of many new devices . . . The use of the project and the socialized recitation, the journey method, or the excursion, the wide use of a variety of visual aids ... all of these devices are used to convert a passive recipient of information into an active, interested, thoroughly motivated learner." Childhood Education (May '34) "Social Develop- ment Through the Movies," by Henry James For- man. The author summarizes the scientific proof that the movies leave "fairly permanent impressions up- on the minds of those who see them" and that they change attitudes. "A large percentage of charac- ters come under the headings of 'occupation un- known or illegal occupation.' "What can we expect of our children in view of their exposure to this world? What they get from pictures germinates in their minds and even in- creases with time, because children's minds are not over-filled with experience and, owing to day- dreaming, there is a process of expansion in the case of these vivid scenes and sounds." Those who wish the outstanding results of the Payne Fund investigation will find the gist given in this article. Parents' Magazine (April, '34) "Helping Youth to Choose Better Movies," by Edgar Dale. We cannot raise a child's standard by merely telling him his tastes are low. Improvement comes gradually when the child comes in contact with better things and slowly learns to understand and like the higher type. The child must build up re- straint within. After discussing the picture con- tent, the writer says when considering the treatment of the theme, "The motion picture story should be told primarily by the camera. Music, dialogue, or sound . . . are all subordinate to the pictures caught by the camera." The Social Studies (May '34) "Researching by Camera," by James A. Barnes of Temple University. The value of the camera to the historian and re- search worker is pointed out in this article. It provides a quick and inexpensive method of copy- ing. "No longer need the researcher spend the greater portion of his time and energy in fruitless copying. An hour or less with the camera will gen- erally suffice to accurately record all the material which can be found in a day. . . . The need for checking is entirely obviated . . . and the re- searcher has for all practical purposes the original document to consult at any time in the future." Not only is the ordinary copying problem solved accurately, quickly, and inexpensively; the field of research is greatly enlarged. Entire pages and chapters may be photographed and many things {Concluded on page 168)