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

THE Chinese have a most interesting custom of naming each year in a distinctive fashion. Surely, if anyone in the audiovisual field were to name this past year, it would have to be as "The Year of The Law" — and most everyone in the audiovisual field would know It'll ich law. The National Defense Education Act is without doubt the most outstanding develo]jment for the AV world during the past twelve months, on at least two counts: it marks a conniiitment by the Congress of the United States to the immediate application of more modern teaching tools; and it proviiies substantial funds to further research for new ideas, new ways, and new instruments through which to build still better instruction on the firm foundation of soimd sensory experiences. The National Aiulio-Visual Association is proud to have had a part in shaping this legislation, along with other professional groups. This is probably the single most significant activity of NAVA during the ])ast year, just as our continuing effort to aid in building effective state plans for partici])ation luider the Act, with audiovisuals well integrated in each plan, is probably the single most significant activity we can undertake for the field in the coming months. 'I"he first step in this program to aid in establishing effective state ])lans has already been taken, with the provision of accurate and immediate information on the Act and its interpretation to a great many persons in education generally, and in audiovisual work specifically. An illustrated 16-page booklet, titled AV-S64, has been produced, and more than 55,000 copies have already been printed. Single copies are free to educators for the asking, from our Fairfax, Virginia headquarters or yoiunearest NAVA dealer. As new interpretations are added to the law, we will publish bulletins on them. The second step in this program is the action of the Association's Board of Directors just taken in making our Executive Vice-President, Don White, available for personal assistance at the state and local levels in connection with the formation of state plans and developments under these plans. His long exijcrience in the AV field and his intimate knowledge of the new .\ct make possible effective guidance in forming plans and setting ujj activities. Other steps in NAVA's continuing program to build better acceptance of audiovisuals on knowledge of what they are and what they mean will get under way in the new year: work will continue with the Audio-Visual Commission on Public fnlormation, which in the l^ast has aidetl in jjroduction of such "landmark publications" in the AV field as (ialrwiiy to Lemming, A Crisis in Education, the sound slide set Case of tlie Curious Citizen, AV on the Air, Telling Your AV Story, and Lnnnching Your AV Program: These are all available from the Commission, Room 22,H0, 250 W. 57th Street, New York C:ity 19. I believe that the level of audiovisual ap]jlications in our nation will rise smely dining the decade, and certainly not so slowly in education as heretofore, .\mong the most promising developments is the growing emphasis on language learning, coupled closely with wide use of audiovisual techniques not only in language study itself, but also in the study of many areas of knowledge about a country recjuired as background for language learning. Here, tcjo, the National Defense Education Act furnishes tremendous potential support of a ]jrogram for teacher's institutes and college language learning centers. In other areas, too, advances have come this past year. Greatly increased interest in materials and etjiiipment tor modern teaching and for more sophisticated AV techniques was very much in evidence at the 18tli aiuutal National .\uclio-Visual Convention and Exhibit, held during July in the Morrison Hotel in (Chicago. More and more areas of business and industry, of religious work, of medical and allied sciences, and of agricultural and other areas of American life, are turning to audiovisual media for the answers to their growing problems of clear, concise connmuiic ations. One residt of such interest in improving materials and techniques was the NAVA Filmstrip Standard Conference, held in Chi 612 EdScreen & AV Guide — December, 1958