See and hear : the journal on audio-visual learning (1945)

time the piiicliases were made. Now the siliool board has taken over! The Program Takes a Step Forward Willi a sDimd projector available, the prol)leiii ol l)ro\icliiiy eiioiiyh suitable teatliiiig films, ailecjiiaic projection, and more toiiiplete teacher participation demanded attention. My time was inadeqtiaie to meet the needs of this expanding program. A committee of three interested teachers was set up to direct the entire audiovisual aids program. Membership on the committee was distributed among teachers from the primary, middle, and upper grades.* The chairman of the committee gave some extra time to the work and served as the director. I'he committee was given complete authority and support from the principal. The duties of this committee can be listed as follows: 1. I'o publicise the audio-visual aids equipment available to the teachers. 2. To encourage teachers through teachers' meetings, bulletins, and personal conferences to enlarge their use of these aids. 3. To direct the teachers in the selection and evaluation of films, filmstrips, and slides. 4. To train teachers and older pupils in the operation of equipment. 5. To care for and service ecjuipment. 6. To set up necessary routines so equipment would be easily available. 7. To recommend budget needs to the principal. One of the biggest tasks of the committee was the selection and ordering of the film. The school secretary provided all the clerical service needed. The committee processed all these requests, eliminated duplications, and trimmed them to fit the budget allowance. (Later asked for a bigger budget!) Catalogs of the most useful sources were provided for I he teachers. As films arrived during the year they were made available to all teachers. As each teacher used a film, she filed an evaluation sheet. These evaluations were later used to guide teachers in selecting films for the following year. One Step Leads to Another This plan worked successfully for several years while the use of film and particularly the interest and skill of teachers was constantly expanding. The demands for films grew and with this there came increased demands for filmstrips and Kodachrome slides. Equipment came to be used so much that a shortage developed. Increased enrollment encroached upon our projection room. The superintendent became interested. A demonstration of audio-visual aids before the P.T.A., including several school board members, increased the community interest. Upon presentation of the needs to the superintendent and through him to the school board the school board decided to alloiu fifty cents per pupil enrolled for film and slide rentals, to purchase an additional projector per school, and to allow one hundred dollars to be paid to a director of audio-visual education in each school. This was put iiiio eflecl in the next school year. The building director was carefully chosen from among the teachers. He had special training in the field and had the ability to work with others. Our Audio-Visual Organization Matures At present we are getting the best possible use out of our equipment with the least waste of teachers' time. Unless teachers find equipment and materials simple and easy to get and use they will forego the advantages of audio-visual aids. Red tape must be at a minimum. To facilitate service to teachers all ecpiipment, materials, spare parts, etc., are centralized in the room of the director. He in turn has a trained staff of student assistants who check materials and equipment in and out, set up projectors, operate projectors, make minor adjustments, and replace belts and bulbs. All filmstrips and slides are also kept under control of tfie director. Shipments are checkeci by the school secretary and she sees that proper purchase orders are processed for payment of rentals and transportation. A committee of teachers assists the director in the selection and evaluation of films. Opportunity for selecting and ordering film during the year is encouraged when the need demands. Today this list of classroom equipment is now available to teachers when they need it! This material is in our own building! No. Description 2 Sound Projectors, 16mm. 2 Dual Purpose Projectors for filmstrips and 2" x 2" slides. I Projector for 2" x 2" slides. 1 Opaque Projector. 1 Projector for 3" x 4" glass slides. 1 Portable Screen. 2 Fixed Screens (dayliie type). 1 Tape Recorder. 6 Radios. 3 Record Players (over) •See •■.Mctting Teaihers' Problems", See & Hear. Nov. 1948 A Mid-Cenfury Review 33