The selection of teaching aids to be used for commerce education is difficult because of the fact that instructional material required or different subjects of commerce programme are almost limitless.

The government sanctions grants and financial aid, the purchase of such aids, from time to time but the amount sanctioned is limited. For these reasons we have to be very careful in our selection of audio-visual aids. This pick and choose of the material must be done by teachers most cautiously, intelligently and wisely. All efforts are made to eliminate such material which distorts facts. For proper selection the schools must collect very detailed information about various items available from various sources and exercise their good sense in the choice of their material.

It is always better to have a committee of teachers for making the selection of such aids because of the following reason:

“Blind buying is always hazardous; the committee should estab­lish and follow the policy of seeing before purchasing. It is well to remember that new models, equipments and materials are often adver­tised before they are ready for distribution. No matter how attractive they may appear on paper or in the salesman’s talk, they should not be bought. Every new product has “bugs”. Competitive demonstrations or try outs under identical conditions represent on excellent method of obtaining comparative data. A wise salesman will welcome such an opportunity. If he does not be evidences a lack of confidence in his product and should be avoided”.

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The following criterion may be adopted for selection of the material to be used as a teaching aid.

(i) It must supplement the text-book information.

(ii) It must represent correct, real and concrete examples.

(iii) It should be commonly used in business and/or Government offices.

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(iv) it should be easy enough to enable even the beginners in Business jobs

(v) It should be interesting, comprehensible, concrete, clear, and concise.

(vi) It should be capable of being used effectively.

(vii) It should be free from any undesirable propaganda and advertising.

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(viii) It should be such as can be easily handled, manipulated and used.

(ix) It should be economical.

(x) It should be durable.

(xi) It spares/repairs are easily possible.

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(xii) Its appearance should be attractive.

(xiii) The teacher must know the special functions of the aid being purchased.