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

FILMSTRIPS classroom science sessions and also as preparation for field trips and nature study trips. by Irene F. Cypher Are you a pattern follower? The majority of us are. There is nothing wrong with patterns; actually, a pattern is a type of map which helps to chart a course or guide in the presentation of something. The trouble with being a pattern follower, however, is that creativity and side-road investigating are often overlooked by the one \\ho adheres too closely to a pattern. The truly creative craftsman is the one who adds little personal touches to his pattern. . . . All by way of introduction to the fact that a new school year is about to start. We face new classes, and we also face the task of helping them become acquainted with much the same basic information we presented to last year's classes. There is a subtle danger in the temptation to look at last year's pattern of subject presentation as an ideal guide for this year's work. Try to resist this temptation if you can, for the filmstrip that stimulated last year's discussion may leave the new class totally uninspired. If, as a teacher, you are thinking about this problem of the use of instructional materials give some attention to new productions; try a slightly different method of presentation for old materials; if you do use materials you have used before then try, with apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan, to "make the material fit the need." It is just possible that both you and the new class may have an even better year (and learn a lot, too!). Aural Comprehension in French (2 units of three filmstrips each, with record or tape; produced by Teaching Audials and Visuals, 250 West 57th St., New York 19, N. Y.; $18.80 for unit of one filmstrip and record or $27 for one filmstrip and two 5-in. reels 71/2 i.p.s. sound tapes). Known as "T h e Audio Visual Comprehension and Dictation Exercise Units," this puts into the hands of language teachers a set of practical material well planned and well organized. Photographs for the filmstrips were taken in France and give us good visuals with which to show something of this country. The records or tapes provide well coordinated narrations which give meaning to the visuals and also provide for vocabulary training and help to make the language itself meaningful. "En Bretagne," "A La Plage," "La Douce France" are planned for the junior high school or first year French; "Paris— La Ville Pour Flaner," "Du Haut De Notre Dame De Paris" and "Tout Droit An Sacre-Coeur" are for the senior high school or college entrance board students. Pictorials are sharp and artistic; the voices of the narrators are clear and well paced. There is a flexibility to this material and it will help to make language study and comprehension interesting. It shows what happens when a producer devotes some thought and attention to the fact that study of language involves both appeal to eye and ear and a sensible arrangement of subject content. Cities of Europe (7 strips, color; produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, 1150 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette. 111.: $42 per set, $6 single strips ) . The cities included in this series are Rome, Paris, Vienna, London, Madrid, Toledo, Granada and the Alhambra. In each instance the city is one closely associated through the centuries with major events of history; they are also centers of cultural and artistic importance. We are given a view of the city itself and also provided with information about the industrial and political life. This is social geography material for middle and upper grades, and is also recommended for art classes at the same level. Elementary Science Series (8 strips, color; produced by Moody Institute of Science, P.O. Box 2575, Los Angeles 25, Cahf.; each for 1 to 4 filmstrips, other prices for quantity purchases ) . The photographers who work for this producer seem to achieve a quality of picture that is truly vivid and realistic. The range of subject matter in the series includes Life Story of A Butterfly, How Does A Garden Grow?, How We See and Hear, Miniature Plants of the Desert, Our Desert Treasure, Wealth in the Ocean, Wonders of Crystals and Wonders of Snow. Because so many of the shots are close-ups, one has almost the feeling of working with actual objects and specimens. The strips are good for French Language Filmstrips (2 strips, color; with record and manual; produced by National Film Board of Canada and available from Stanley Bowmar Co., Valhalla, New York; $7.95 each). Any class would enjoy a visit to the great wheat farms of Canada and to the equally interesting forests and logging camps. These areas provide the background for becoming familiar with simple French conversation. The pictures involved in "Exploits of Ti-Jean Dans L'Ouest" and "Ti-Jean et Les Boucherons" catch the spirit of the story content and tht record narrations are easy to comprC' hend. Material of this type is appealing; it helps to make language stud) interesting and al.so provides a mediurr which allows the pupil to use the language as an actual channel foi communication. These are interesting stories, and to understand them yoi learn to use the language; you fine yourself using the words of the nar rator. Picture Book Parade (4 strips, om black and white and three color, anc record with four stories; produced b; Weston Woods Studios, Westi^ort Conn.; $25 per set). Several month ago we reviewed some of the filmstrip: of this series. The producer has nov combined four of the filmstrips, witl the story books and the story narra tion on record. The result is still ex cellent and to be recommended fo any primary grade work in reading language arts and especially for stor hours. "In the Forest," "Curiou George Rides A Bike," "Jenny's Birth day Book" and "The Five Chines' Brothers" are all sprightly tales. Ii this new package unit the delightfu pictures are balanced with story an< the quality of the narration matche the art work of the filmstrips. There i a simple, direct style in both which i appealing to children. This is materia that gives both teacher and pupils th^ potential for many hours of enjoyment The 90% You (single strip, coloi with manual; produced by WilUam E Gottlieb for Am. Inst, of Men's am Boy's Wear, Inc., and available with out charge from Audio-Visual Assc ciates. Box 243, Bronxville, N. Y.) High school students have long bee told that attention to clothing ani grooming are important to success i. both social and business life. When came to material with which to illuf trate these statements, very little wa 492 Educational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — September, 196ii