New Colour Films

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30951, 6 January 1966, Page 7

New Colour Films

Instructional colour films were revolutionising every field of education, a world authority on teaching aids said in London today. Mr L. W. D. Ball, consultant editor for technical films and publications for the MacMillan Publishing Company, said the films represented the biggest breakthrough in education in the last 15 to 20 years. Mr Ball, a New Zealander, said the British Labour Minis-

try had commended the

films which were now being used widely throughout the country for teaching apprentices and students in mechanical and civil engineering fields.

Mr Ball is a former lecturer on engineering at Avondale College, Auckland. Four years ago, with Professor Alan Odel, associate professor at the University of Auckland, he wrote the “Pictorial Text Book of Engieering.” He also taught for one year at the School of Mechanical and Civil Engineering in Sydney. Mr Ball, 54, told Australian Associated Press of the fiveminute Imm cassette-type loop films he was producing for the company, the leaders in this field in Britain.

“The major problem educationists have always faced is getting students to understand what they are talking about,” he said. “These films show exactly what the lecture is on and thus create ‘breakthrough’ into the student’s minds so that they are much more receptive to learning “We have produced about eight series of films, the longest running for 55 minutes. Leading educationists in this country have been highly enthusiastic about them, to say the least.

“In the near future we will be making films on a wide range of subjects that will be available for use by secondary schools and technical colleges alike.”