Evening star., 1961-01-01
By DANA BULLEN
star stan Writer

Sial classroom innovations
which some experts think may
Irevolutionize education = will
be tried on an experimental
basis next September in Mont
gomery County schools.
The experiment probably will
be the first time in the WASH
ington area that either new
teaching technique has been
employed In public schools.
While several jurisdictions
have discussed possible use Of
teaching machines or pro-
grammed texts, officials report
that Montgomery County is the
first to decide to 90 ahead with
the new systems.
Ten schools Affected
AS presently planned. the ex-
pertinent win involve an esti-
mated 1900 students In about
10 schools. ''It's quite an ambi-
tious program" said DR.. Sam
uel Goodman. supervisor Of
research.
The two systems, which in
volve teaching without using
teachers, win be compared with
each other and with standard
instruction methods. Officials
said.
Between 80 and 40 teachers
win be trained this spring and
summer to supervise the trial.
At the same time, teaching
materials using the new meth
DDS win be prepared.
Subjects scheduled for the
experimental program include
spelling { and arithmetic in
primary grades. social studies
for intermediate school stu
dents, science and possibly
mathematics in Junior high
schools, and physics at the
senior high school level.
Machines Undecided
County school oficials said
details Of the trial program
may change somewhat as plan
ming continues. For example,
what type Of teaching ma
chimes to use has not been de-
cided.
The new techniques viii be
tested on selected groups Of
students and will be used only
for certain portions Of courses.
One reason for limiting the
program Is to provide an OPP
portunity for testing later in
the year to see how much ma
terial Is retained.
Plans developed thus far
have been worked UP under
the direction Of q special re-
search committee Of top school
staf members headed by DR..
Goodman.
The planning group includes
John A.. Permenter, assistant
superintendent for instruction.
and directors and other repre-
sentatives Of the elementary
and secondary school divisions
and the curriculum. education
services and research depart
ments.
$S3,650 Budget Proposed
Supt. C.. Taylor whittier's
proposed 1852 school budget
calls for $83,650 for research,
curriculum development and
preparation Of new teaching
materials and techniques. The
budget item, officials said, in
cludes money for the expert
mental program.
Results Of the trial will be
gauged by follow-up tests and
will be weighted against tearn-
ing Of other students. Ofiicials
noted wide use Of standardized
tests in county schools pro-
vides data for many compare
sions.
Besides comparing the two
new techniques with standard
instruction methods, school
officials are particularly inter-
ested in comparing teaching
machines with programmed
texts.
Both systems use the same
approach to learning, although
the machines perhaps sound
more unconventional than do
the texts.
The basic theory is that a
student can learn without a
teacher-and at q faster rate
by progressing through a Sc
ries Of questions that impart
knowledge while seemingly
seeking only answers.
Learning at Own Rate
Each question covers a small
area Of knowledge and includes
q new fact. The series Of ques-
tions-the so-called program
is constructed so a pupil should
get each answer right.
The ability to give the right
answer. experts say, provides a
student with an incentive that
encourages him to tackle SUBJ
sequent questions.
A strong argument cited in
support Of both new learning
systems is that they permit a