Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

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December, 1 945 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE 31 New NEA Audio-Visual Instructional Service Division BY VERNON G. DAMERON, Director Condensed from The Journal of the NEA, December, 1945 Audio-visual instruction finally has been accorded wide recognition as a remarkably effective medium of instruction. This recognition was afforded great impetus by the armed forces. The widely-acclaimed “GI method of teaching” is primarily characterized b y the extensive use of motion pictures, filmstrips, slides, recordings, models, mockups, and other types of aids to learning. There are great expectations for audio-visual instruction in this postwar period. It is only natural that the NEA should be interested in taking active part in the expansion and develop Vernon G. Dameron, Director of the recently-established NEA Division of Audio-Visual Instructional Service, majoi’ed in physical sciences and social studies at Marshall College, in education at West Virginia University, and in audio-visual instruction for his doctorate at Harvard Univeisity. He has had five years of experience in public-school work, including a directorship of audio-visual instruction. He has also had considerable experience in still and motion-picture photography, recording, ladio communication (W8HGA), and instrumental music. For the past three years, he served as Dii’ector of the Planning Department and Coordinator of the Army Air Forces TrainingFilm Preparation Unit, located at Chanute Field, Illinois. The work of the Unit consisted of producing, processing, and printing sound motion pictures, sound filmstrips, and silent filmstrips, and distributing them to the Allied nations throughout the world. The Executive Committee of the NEA Department of Visual Instruction recently appointed him Executive Secretary of the Department. Vernon G. Dameron, NEA Audio-Visual Coordinator Washington, D. C. ment of audio-visual instruction in the schools of the nation. The program of the new NEA Division of Audio-Visual Instructional Service will deal with all of the many types of audiovisual aids, including radio and television, on all levels of education. Details of the program will be based upon a survey of the present status and trends of audio-visual instruction. The following general aspects of the field will receive consideration : Means bij which audio-visual instructum can be made less expensive — Financial limitations constitute a great impediment to expansion o f audio-visual instruction. Intensive efforts are now being exerted to effect the release of surplus audio-visual equipment and materials from the armed forces for distribution to the public schools on the basis of need and financial inability to purchase such equipment and materials. All the equipment is suited to school use and many of the films and other audiovisual aids produced by or for the armed forces have permanent educational value. Schools — especially those which have photography or art courses or camera clubs — will be encouraged to produce the more simple types of audio-visual aids. Textbook publishers will be encouraged to produce audio-visual aids to accompany their textbooks. Criteria for more effective selection and evaluation of audiovisual aids — As the quantity and quality of audio-visual aids increase, criteria must become more exacting because of the wider range of selection. The most serious obstacle to the formulation of criteria is the lack of definite, detailed purposes of the units of study in the various courses. Methods a n d techniques for more effective integration and utilization of audio-visual aids — More work probably needs to be done in this phase of the program than in any other. The function of audio-visual instruction is now considered merely supplementary in nature, just an “aid,” as implied by the designation, “audio-visual aid.” It should be considered more basic — an integral part of the “core” of educational procedure. A comprehensive program may extend the horizons of our courses of study by making it