DOCUMENT RESUME ED 089 365 CS 201 206 AUTHOR DeBoer, John J., Ed.; And Others TITLE Education and The Mass Media of Communication. INSTITUTION National Conference on Research in English.; National Council of Teachers of English, Urbana, Ill. PUB DATE 50 NOTE 71p.; Published and distributed by NCTE from its former office in Chicago EDRS PRICE MF-$0.75 HC-$3.15 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS *Communication Skills; Elementary Education; *English Instruction; Instructional Aids; *Literature Reviews; *Mass Media; *Media Research; Multimedia Instruction; Secondary Education ABSTRACT This monograph deals with the utilization of modern communicational media as aids to instruction and learning inthe English classroom and contains studies pointing theway toward expanding student experience through multimedia instruction.Chapters include "Magazines," which presents objectives for magazine study, discusses students' reading interests, and suggests class activities based on magazine study; "Newspapers," which reviews thenewspaper reading interests of children and youth and considers objectivesand activities for the classroom; "Radio," which analyzes children's listening interests, examines the effects of radio listeningon children, and explores useful classroom practices; "Television," which discusses public interest in television, examines financeand programing in commercial television, and considers the effects of television on education; "Recorded Sound Aids," which summarizes the available research, suggesting classroom applications for recorded materials; and "Motion Pictures," which discusses the motion picture as an instructional device and a cultural force. (RB) U S DEPARTMENT OF NEALTH, EOUCATION A WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO VIAINININNINNANEmolosolw DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN ATING iT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NeCESSARkLY REPRE. SENT OF FiCi AL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EOUCATJON POSITION OR POLICY. Education and The Mass Media of Communication Prepared by a Committee of The National Conference On Research In English RESEARCH BULLETIN OP THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN ENGLISH Reprinted from Elena Nkry Enlist?, January to May, 1950 Ara Official Publication of the National Council of Teachers of English John J. D:Boer, Editor Officers of the Nationzl Conference on Research In English: ( 1949. 1950) President: Harold A. Anderson Vice-President: Bess Goodykoontz Sectetary-Treastuer: Gertrude A. Whipple Editorial Committee For Research Bulletins Of The National Conference On Research In English: Emmett A. Betts, Chairman, Temple University Roy Ivan Johnson, University of Denver Nita Damon Smith, New York Univerrity Published and Distributed by THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH 211 West 68th Street Chicago 21, Illinois Single copies, 75 cents 10 or more copies, 60 cents each Catalog Order No. P 56.6 EDUCATION AND THE MASS MEDIA OF COMMUNICATION Prepared by a Committee of The National Conference On Research In English JOHN J. DEBOER, Chairman University of Illinois ROY IVAN JOHNSON University of Denver P. A. K1LLGALLON University of Oregon LILLIAN NOVOTNY Oriole Park School, Chicago DALLAS W. SMYTHE University of Illinois PETER L. SPENSER Claremont Graduate School MARION R. TRABUE Pennsylvania State College ABRAM W. VANDERMEER Pennsylvania State College *0* A RESEARCH BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN ENGLISH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF '1EACHERS OFENGLISH Copyright 1950 by The National Council of Teachers of English Printed in U. S. A. "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS COPY- RIGHTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED SY National Council of Teachers of EnglWH TO ERIC AND ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE NATIONAL IN STITUTE OF EDUCATION. FURTHER REPRO- DUCTION OUTSIDE THE ERIC SYSTEM PE- OUIRES PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OW N ER TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapter L INTRODUCTION 5 ROY L JOHNSON Chapter II.MAGAZINES 7 JOHN J. DEBOER Chapter III. NEWSPAPERS 26 JOHN J. DEBOER Chapter IV. RADIO 39 LILLIAN R. NOVOTNY Chapter V. TELEVISION 47 DALLAS W. SMYTHE Chapter VI. RECORDED SOUND AIDS 58 PAT KILLGALLON Chapter VII. MOTION PICTURES 69 ABRAM W. VANDERMEER Introduction ,JOY 1. JOHNSONt The lag in education has been accounted The various chapters of this bulletin deal for in various ways. One explanation lies in thewith the utilization of modern communication- "heritage concept" of education. We are so con-al media as aids to instruction and learning. cerned with the past that we have little time forWhether the utilization be in connection with the study of the present. Another contributingcourses in English or other areas of study is not, factor is the persistence of organized patternsat the moment, a matter of primary concern. of learning and established procedures. Thus we The logical assumption is that in all areas learn- commit ourselves, both in subject matter anding will be strengthened by intensifying experi- method, to what has been. A practical impedi-ence and multiplying the media for the com- ment in the modernization ofschool programs munication of th,ughts, ideas, and impressions. has been the lack of educational tools adapted Since English deals with communicational skills, to school use. Traditionallybooks have beenone might suppose that the English curriculum the tools of teaching and learning. For manywould be prompt to respond to the social and years the tinging of the morningschool bell technological advances in modem communica- was the signal to "take up books"an ex-tional practice. But in the past half century, pression that still prevails in some sections ofwhich has been the most productive period in the country. Reading and recitation have been,the world's history in science and invention, in the main, the ritual of school practice. surprisingly little progress has been made in adapting the products of science to the pro- But as the problem'of pupil learning has be- cesses of education. Itis true that there is a come the subject of psychologicalstudy, wesparse offering of educational filmssparse in have accumulated convincing data to show that comparison with the total production of films the berg learning (chat is, learning which lasts on a commercial basis. Some excellent radio re- and which functions in use) results from active cordings in special fields are available. There experience, and varied experience, rather than is a fairly abundant supply of good music re- from passive assimilation and recitation of fact.cords. Occasional "hook-ups" are reported be- This extension of pupil experience has been ac- tween the schools and local radio stations. Some complished in some measure through the use colleges and universities have their own broad- of maps, globes, structural models, and labora- casting centers or arraage for "time" with a tory materials in science. Also, as education has neighboring station. But many, if not most of taken cognizance of community problems andthese services are commercial or promotional in community interests, some emancipation from nature. They illustrate possibilities rather than books has been achieved by utilizing corn-perfected program.; adapted to specific needs. munity resources as aids to learning. These ex-The showing of a film, for exampl; is too often an adventure in entertainment (or a "build- pansions of the school program are reflections up" for the local theater) rather than a planned ofbroadened concept of education which in- educational experience. sists that subject matter must be life-related, that the school must be identified with society 'Professor of Education, the University of instead of divorced from it. Denver. 5 6 MASS MEDIA OF COMMUNICATION Planning: here lies the key to better use ofa few selected magazines and newspapers. But instructional materials. And the planning must as audio-visual materials ate accumulated, they be of three sorts. First in order is the develop-too must be made easily availablewith a ment of a larger store of appropriate materialsminimum demand on teacher time and a mini- adapted to specific needs and purposes. A mum of delay in supplying the requested ma- moving picture which happens to have its terials. Since the library is already a functioning setting in Colorado in 1890 is not necessarilyorganization, serving the curricular needs of a good educational film for a unit of study inthe various departments, it would appear to be Our Western Expansion. Second, there mustthe logical administrative unit through which be planning with respect to the way in whichadditional aids should be channeled. But what- the new experience is to be utilized. Whatever the answer may be,itisessential, for preparation is needed? What emphases are totimely and effective use, that all types of ap- bestressed? What follow-upactivitiesate proved teaching materials(including films, needed to fix the new learning and relate it toslides, recordings, etc.)be made readily ac- the obectives of the unit? Third, there must cessible. be some effective re-planning in connection The stvdiz.s reported in this bulletin point with the problem of scheduling and distributingthe way towr.rd an enlargement of pupil experi- in order to bridge the gap between the teacher ence thrbugh the utilization of such communi- and potential teaching aids and materials, cational media as newspapers and magazines, A word about the last of these three needsfilm strips and motion pictures, radio, and the problem of distribution. The function ofphonographic transcription