International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1931)

— 68g ideals. Characteristics as regards the child, the syllabus, the teacher, the timetable, lessons, books, discipline, modern methods of teaching. Luminous Projections. Fixed projections slides on film and ordinary slides. Films to serve as help, suggestion, illustration, description, imitation, etc. In these " Experimental Classes " an attempt is made to demonstrate certain special teaching principles; among others we note the following: i. By the projection of a number of drawings to make easily assimilable matter which is beyond a child's understanding; 2. Tasks prepared for pupils can usefully be commented and explained with the use of the epidiascope; 3. Projection of delicate drawings that cannot be done on the blackboard, for the purpose of explaining complex notions; 4. Illustrations, which formerly had no didactic value because their use was a source of distraction or waste of time, can now be utilised with great advantage thanks to luminous projections. 5. In the coordination of apparently unrelated experiments, the film can summarize long processes and complicated phenomena of which the child should have some general idea. 6. By means of the film certain phenomena "can be observed in small children, of which the teacher should take account in his teaching. At the end of each course the pupilteachers have to apply the instruction they have received and to submit to the Institute subjects for films connected with their own particular branch. Some of them have sent in « personal observations »; of these we quote the following: " The benefits of class-teaching may be measured by the knowledge or understanding imparted to the pupil. Of all knowledge, that which is visually acquired is the most useful. A child easily remembers what he has seen and can faithfully reproduce it at any time. The cinema is a first-rate source of visual understanding, elucidating facts and phenomena that would otherwise necessitate lengthy explanation and children do not enjoy long lectures. I have found that knowledge acquired in this way sticks..." " ...is a triumph of science, a powerful stimulus to the intellectual, moral and physical faculties; a natural collaborator which encourages thought, feeling and action. I am sure that my pupils never enjoyed themselves so much before, and, for myself, my first film-lesson was, I am convinced, the best and most useful I have ever given." " I consider the school cinema a better method of imparting knowledge than any other. The luminous projection saves the pupil vain imaginative and intellectual effort — which he will not even make unless the subject sufficiently interests him — while the teacher need no longer hold forth at length, and sometimes unprofitably, on matters which it is often impossible for him to explain without some external aid." " Having once secured my pupil's interest, my first concern was to make them realise the distinction between the recreational and the educational cinema, and this I did to my complete satisfaction without the least diculty. In my opinion children remember lessons taught by film; they obtain a clear conception of things, and this amounts to a real educational triumph." " Every film should be prepared on a pre-conceived plan to include the following: (a) informal conversation or discussion with the class to explain the lesson, arranging or selecting parts to be specially emphasised; drawings, enquiries, oral and written summaries, etc.; (b) written observations in a copy-book in answer to questions framed to suit the individual pupil; (c) An hour during which the punils discuss some previous film-lesson. This I consider essential in order that the class may realise its responsibilities." " My chief impression is the sense of solidarity which unites pupils during a film lesson." " Particularly remarkable are the alert curiosity and better behaviour of pupils. The cinema secures spontaneous discipline.." " The educational film supplies constant material for the exercise of children's graphic faculties the opportunity for the drawing-master to train their " visual