LESSONS BY RADIO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 7

LESSONS BY RADIO.

BEGUN IN. AUCKLAND.

"BROADENING INFLUENCE."

SCHEME EXPLAINED. Definitely encouraging results had been received from the experiment of broadcasting wireless lessons to schools, said the principal of the Auckland Training College, Mr. D. M. Rae, this morning. "We have received an assurance from teachers that it is worth while," ho said, "and we have their support. They say that the children are benefiting." Many schools were equipped with sets, and it was hoped to extend the activity of the service.

The talks, each of 15 minutes, were provided for schools on Mondays from 1.50 p.m. to 3 p.m., and were given by members of the Training College staff. Not many schools jhad their own receiving sets, but much ingenuity was being shown by schools to secure them. Already, school committees, inspired largely by enthusiastic teachers, were inquiring as to the most suitable type of set.

The same kind of broadcast had been tried by the British Broadcasting Board, and recent experiments were being concentrated in one county, Kent. It was stated by the 8.8.C. that no hurried conclusion as to the success or failure of the scheme could be arrived atj but that if it were to succeed then co-opera-tion between the lecturer and the teacher was essential.

The control of the scheme is vested in a committee under the jurisdiction of the Auckland Education Board. Mr. Rae represents the Training College, from which building the broadcast is made. A land line from station IYA connects with the microphone. Object of the Scheme. Briefly, Mr. Rae said, the object of the scheme was to supplement the work of the teacher and to allow the children to 'benefit from the experience of experts. "We have no desire to displace teachers," he said. "We do not look forward to a time when the six periods of the day will be filled by six lecturers from our Training College here; but we do know that we are able to supplement the ordinary work of teachers. New teaching materials are being discovered, new devices and methods, and no teacher can be an expert in every branch of his profession. Under this scheme_ the children receive talks from those who are experts in one line. Teachers realise this, and they are co-operating with us; in fact, if they do not co-operate our scheme cannot succeed."

Mr. G. K. Hamilton, a committee member, who was with Mr. Rae this morning, said that the personality of the teacher would not be eliminated. That was an important point.

Details of the broadcast talks were made available to teachers in advance, Mr. Rae added, so that they could prepare for the talk when it came. That was what he meant by co-operation. For example, if the talk was about geography the teacher. would have a map in a conspicuous position, and would, have details on the blackboard. Thus as the man at the microphone led his many listeners from point to point, the teacher would explain further by the material available in the class-room. Then after the lecturette the teacher would recapitulate, and cement the information in the children's minds.

Teachers had reported that the children in the tipper classes were providing themselves with note-books, and taking their own notes. The lecturer, a man of experience, would speak slowlyenough to permit of- that. The .value of the talk thus depended on its intensity rather than its extensity.

Suggestions Welcomed, When the refresher course for teachers is held in Auckland, from May 8 to 12, the Normal School would be kept open and a wireless broadcast arranged. Mr. Eae said the visitors would thus be able to see the response of the children, and collect useful information for* their own subsequent use.

"We have had had initial difficulties to deal with," added Mr. Rae, "but we are overcoming them, and we welcome any suggestions. We feel that this will be a broadening influence on the child. For instance, when any prominent visitor comes to the city we will ask him or her to speak through our microphone. Mr. "Plum" Warner did so last Monday, and those who could not see the cricket could hear him. We think that this is a forward step in education."