The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

April, 1943 cz^moncj tks. ^%oduas,x± E, C. Dent Appointed SVE General Manager Ellsworth C. Dent, formerly RCA Educational Director, has been appointed General Manager of the Society for Visual Education, Inc., Chicago, it was announced by Miss Marie Witham, President of S. V. E. He began his new duties April 1. "The addition of Mr. Dent to our organization," said Miss Witham, "will place us in a better position to serve the training iniits of the armed forces until the war is won. At the same time, his broad experience will aid us in making appropriate plans for the expected post- war increase in the use of visual aids and equipment among schools, churches, liomes and in industry." Mr. Dent received his early training in education at the Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. This was followed by graduate work in Education while in charge of the Bureau of Visual In- struction. University of Kansas, a service organization for the schools of Kansas. E. C. Dent During his ten years at the University 01 Kansas, he expanded the visual in- struction services to meet the growing neetis of schools, including one of the first loan libraries of educational slide- films. The Bureau also maintained an e(|uipment recommendation service, to aid schools in the selection of projectors, screens, cameras and materials. His next assignment was the organi- zation f>f visual instruction service for the Inter-Mountain Area, at Brigham Young University. Provo, Utah. This was fol- lowed by nearly three years with the United States Department of Interior, v.here he became Director of the Division of Motion Pictures and supervised the prfKhiction and distribution of pictures, films ami slidefilms for educational use. For the seven years prior to his ap- pointment as General Manager to S.V.E.. Mr. Dent has been Educational Director of the RCA Victor Division. Radio Corporation of .■\merica. In this work, his responsibilities involved the planning of audio-visual products for use in schools, and the direction of sales, promotion and advertising activities in the school market. He has made frequent appearances be- fore state and national educational con- ventions and organizations. He has also lectured during summer sessions and other college and university audio-visual training courses. He is author of The Audio-Visual Handbook, widely used as a text and for reference by the field. Visual Unit on Slidefilm Utilization The effectiveness of the visual teaching session depends upon numerous fac- tors. One of these, frequently over- looked, is efficiency in the "mechanics" of conducting such classes, such as room preparation, lighting, projection arrangements and student placement. The objective of the visual lesson fre- quently falls short through lack of con- sideration of certain small but import- ant details which can easily be prevent- ed by careful planning in advance. At a time when effective visual leachiii;; is more necessary than ever, it is im- portant to observe certain fundamental principles of good teaching technique and give careful attention to the mechanics of projection. Concrete sug- gestions are offered in the form of discussional or reading type of slide- film, consisting of 80 frames, produced by the Jam Handy Organization, 290U E. Grand Blvd., Detroit. The title of the unit is "Tips on Slidefilms" and it is available to any teacher or school for only 6Sc. The material presented IS condensed from the experience gain- ed in hundreds of visual teaching classes and visualized meetings in schools and colleges, and particuiar'y, industry. The subject is presented in five topics as follows: I. Preparing the Classroom—illus- strating in detail correct pro- jector and screen placement, handling of projector cord, etc. II. The Projector and its Use—giv- ing details on proper loading and handling of projector to ensure smooth performance. III. The Projector in the Meeting— presenting the instructor's role in introduction of subject, pre- sentation, class discussion and final summary. IV. Individual Use of Slidefilm— demonstrating how the slide- film may be used in the work- shop, by projecting it on the floor or ceiling, to the benefit of the worker engaged in a mechanical operation visualized in the film. \'. Use of Slidefilm as a Reference— showing how filmslide subjects can be filed and indexed for ready reference, and how the slidefilm can be projected on a blackboard and traced for continuous reference or study. Plug the projector cord into a socket that will still be "live" when the room lights are turned out. .CipcuHA- Closnroom Li^ts CUwrooiM «hould be in rewiinew for the diaefilm piwenutioo before the class coovenefc Three minute* k)« by 20 students waiting for the teacher to make preparations is one hour wasted. *<5 \, / A^' Students should view the screen at not more than a 45-degree angle, or — _ The room must be reasonably dark. window shades, paper, doth, or whitewash will darken the windows sufficiently. , The inctnictor reads all the copy in a clear ' voice to nuke sure that all students keep up widi the pieeenution. Thus, the class gets an over-all conception of the subject. „ The slidelilm library contain many picttires that could be tTai»ion the blackboardor on a chart ior continuous reference or ■tody. Frames from "Tips on Slidefilms';