The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 462 Educational Screen Experinicnlal Research in Audio-Visual Efluealion (Coiicliidril fraiii page 460) 5. The (Icpk'tion of tlie liuniaii ciuniciits nf siiunco is limited largely to tliose films of the iiisi)iratioral-drainatic type, that is, to siieh films as those whieh dramatized the stniggle^ of some scientist to overcome the bigotry or superstitious ignorance of the society of his time. Hence, the personalities. altitudes, and methods of scientists at work are not being demonstrated as intelligently or as fully as their importance in science on the high-school level warrants. .\ltbough the liearded scientist peering tensely at test tubes amidst a '-.'rest of miscellaneous glassware was often dramatized, these glimpses never seemed to serve any definite pedagogical end. 6. There is good evidence that the best instructional fihiis in. science may teach, or at least are fitted to teach, scientific princi])les. However, the twenty-four films studied reveal no definite intention or attempt to teach scientific principles. .\t no time were the observers of the films given an opportunity to generalize ui)on the facts presented. Obviously the prime objective was to dispen.se information to a passive audience. The narrator knew so much which had to be told. In the brief ten minutes which were at bis disposal, be often had to discuss broad fields of subject matter ipiite comprehensively, cramming large amounts of generalized information into a short sjjace of time. The statements of principles resulted, therefore. i|uite accidentally and unintentionally as an expedient in tl'.e interests of brevity. Xo direct evidence was found to indicate that the makers of films hold the elucidation of a scientific principle to be either a primary objective of .science teaching or pedagogically valuable in itself. 7. There was likewise no evidence that the best motion I)ictures adequately provide {(if teaching the elements of .scientific method. The prmlucers of the films do not seem to be aware that the method of inc|uiry is a vital aspect of .science. The motion i)ictures of the informatifmal-expository type, which are devoted exclusively to dispensing information, were invariably replete with scientific facts but deficient in exposition of the method used to discover those facts. The inspirational-dramatic type of film naturally dealt almost exclusively with the "struggles" of scientists to solve problems, yet nowhere were their methods of problem-solving intelligently demonstrated. 8. No mention of or effort to teach the scientific attitudes through the medium of the best in.structional films available today is evident. Consequently, since such evidence as is available strongly indicates that attitudes cannot be effectively inculcated incidentally or indirectly, it seems unlikely that these films would function to an appreciable extent in teaching the scientific attitudes. 9. There is evidence, therefore, which indicates that the film producers not only fail to pnn'ide the means of achieving the most important objectives of science teaching to the extent possible through the motion picture medium, but that Ihey also fail to use optimally the unique and the specialized functions of which the medium is capable. Xearly half of the contents of the twenty-four films served no unique or specialized fimctions and contributed to none of the three major objectives. The fact that at least a part of this approximate half is needed in all probability to effect continuity in the film does not mitigate the deserved criticism that many potent means of cftecting important outcomes in science teaching were not employed in these films to the extent tliat was practicable. • How to Insure a Successful Film Showing — published b} the Aetna I-ife Affiliated Companies. Hartford, Conn. While handbooks have been ]>rinted concerning the operalion of projectors, this li tie 16-page booklet, prepared for use by Aetna's agents in connection with the showing of Aetna educational films, is believed to be one of the first of its kind covering the subject of staging a successful showing in its entirety, .\niong the subjects covered are selecting the room, placing and operating the projector, testing the L'. S. Public Health Service, Atlanta. "Visual Ediicaeqnipment, use of diflfcrcnt sizes of lenses, and general hints on lighting, ventilation, and programming. N.Y. Film Coiiiiril Hears Times Critic A!.L'.\CHI£().\' meeting of the Xew York Fihn Council liatl a.s its speaker Hosley Crowther. ridted Ncic York 'fiiiics t'llni critic. l\c])orting on a recent west cuast trip, he expressed his (ijiinion that i h)lly\v(iod is not ])rei)ared to ])roduce straight information films, nor is the regular movie theatre prepared U< distribute tlieni. mainly for purely economic reasons. -Addressing himself chiefly to tlie producers of informational films in his audience he .said: ■'Hollywood is doing a job, and certainly is doing it very well, according to its own lights and those of t';e slockiuilders of the companies, in the nvtinifacture o* entertainment films. l>ut 1 feel that you are the custodians of a form (if film which is completely apart from the tyi)e of i)ictures being made in Hollywood and that any ])ossible contemplatioti on your part of ])rodnction alliances or even tlie use of Hollywood facilities for i)roduction would l)e very unfortunate." Tlie innnediate future of the information film insofar as distribtition is concerned, is with non-theatrical outlets. The commercial theatre, he said, has reached a saturation point with this kind of product. Ife jiredicted, however, that if the country had to filce another de])ression. that the "whole complex.on (;f the commercial theatre might change. I can see a breakdown of the mass audience theatre, if sucli a del)ression overtakes us." he said, "\\'e may find that sometlnng will emerge as a community center idea, architecturally as well as culturally, where the motion picture theatre will .serve as a focal point and wherein all types of motion pictures, entertaimnent as well as information, will find a ready outlet." Mr. Crowther remarked that there has beeti a distinct borrowing of the so-called documentary technic|ue in the ])roduction of entertainment films, and he cited The House on 92mi Street as an example. "This has been a very hapin' develoi)ment and it has contributed very nnich to the responsibility of the entertainment film itself." he .said. "It is very encouraging, but it does not mean that serious thinking and planning for the ]iroduclion of information films will t.ike ])lace in Hollywood. ' lie suggested to film-makers and marketers of the information fihn that they should not "anticipate too close an alliance or even understanding" with Hollywood. 'l"om Urandon is chairman the Xew ^'ork Film Cotmcil : W illard \'an Dyke, vice-chairman. Atlanta Film Council Meets Weekly Willi. 1-1 most local film councils content theniselves with monthly meetings, the Atlanta group meets each Monday, at noon, at the Atlantaii Hotel. Program chairmen of other Film Councils. sometimes at a loss to arrange toii-flight programs even on a monthly basis, will draw inspiration from the following six successive weekly events on the .\tlanta schedule : "Sotmd on I-'ilm Recording : Some .\'e\v Developments". Mr. Will H. Kimberly and Mr. Walter Winn, (Concluded on page 464>