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

BRITAIN... (continued from page 2 2) italizes on the interests of pupils, teaches through experience, ap- proaches learning as problem solv- ing, and deals with a content that is significant for democratic living. Now you may at first be concerned and ask, "But are these pupils learn- ing to read and to write, to add and multiply?" I am sure that they are; this film has other purposes than to show how pupils get instruction in the fundamental skills which we all know are important. And you may also ask, "What about subject matter?" The subjects which we traditionally expect pupils to study are here—geography, sci- ence, history, and all the others— although in the words of the teacher in the film, Mr. Richards, they are not in water-tight compartments. Again, in Mr. Richards' words, the pupils in this film "are acquiring information, but they are also get- ting the habit of wanting to know and are learning how to find out things for themselves." This film can be used either as in- service training for teachers or in teacher education programs in liber- al arts colleges, teachers colleges, or colleges of education. It is not a film to be used by teachers with elemen- tary or secondary school pupils. Its professional character should be clearly understood. It is one of the few strictly professional, teacher ed- ucation films of which I am aware. It should be equally useful in meth- ods and in curriculum classes, for it illustrates and makes meaningful both progressive principles of in- struction and sound principles of curriculum organization. In fact, it shows how curriculum and method are fundamentally one. The writer has used it with highly satsifactory resiilts in an undergrad- uate teacher education program. These teachers in training have dis- covered through this film what is meant when the lectures and text book have told them that curricu- lum is experience and learning is problem solving. The film is well produced, di- rected, and acted; the quality of pho- tography is good, and the film is professional in all aspects. It is British and the British accent may LDREN ON TRIAL A Feature Documentary Film on JUVENILE DELINQUENCY 7 reels * 62 minutes I6mfn Sound One of oor great problems today is Juvenile Delinquency. This film shows how Government social services are working to combat juvenile crime in Great Britain. It fells in dramatic fashion of how a boy who is caught house breaking and a girl who runs away from home and becomes a sex delinquent. Both are sent to approved schools where at first they fail to re- spond to their environment. Later they realize that they are being given a fresh start in life and decide to take advantage of the opportunities of- fered to them. BRITISH INFORMATION SERVICES oWce, 360 North Michigan Ave., Chicogs , lit 907 ISth Street, N.W..Wnhingli)nS,D.C 30 Rotkelellei Plaio, New »otl< 20, N. Y. 391 Suiter St., San Froncisco 8, Calil. AND FROM BRITISH CONSULATES AT Boston • Detroit • Houston • Los Angeles • Seattle Avoiiob/e in Canada from fh» United Kingdom Information office^ 10 Albert Street, Ottawa bother at first, but teacher audiences quickly adjust to this. The dramatic quality of the film assures close at- tention from the audience through- out its running and abundant dis- cussion afterward. * # « Mass Media Course Announced ♦ Dr. Margaret Mead, Teachers College, Columbia University, and guest lecturers at the American Mu- seum of Natural History will present a new course designed for students in audio-visual education, anthro- pology, social psychology, sociology, and market research and for profes- sional workers in the fields of audio- visual education and communica- tions. Contemporary materials will be supplemented by examples from Bali, New Guinea and other exotic societies. The new course is entitled Anthropology and Mass Media. * * • • Order new books on audio-vis- ual subjects from The SEE & HEAR BOOKSHELF, 157 E. Erie, Chicago (11) Illinois. Lists on request. MARCH • 1947 45