2005 Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) Conference

On behalf of the Franklin Institute we would like to welcome you to Philadelphia for this years M.A.P.S. conference. A group of local Delaware Valley Planetarians (plus a few from far flung cities) are coming together to host your visit for M.A.P.S. 2005. Our conference theme is:

WhatWorks?

Four themed sessions have been developed to lead our conference on the theme of in-service training. Many new planetarium directors in our area would like professional development dealing with competencies needed to keep educational facilities viable. These skills carry over to educators/lecturers using a museum planetarium to deliver a presentation. From developing the proper speaking skills that are related to media driven talks through properly designed instructional units that seek to engage your audience. Reviewing how to implement standards, benchmarks, anchors, competencies, or outcomes by twisting current presentations to meet teachers needs, There is the continual struggle to keep informed of what technology can best be utilized to meet those needs. So What Works?

The Planetarium Presenter as a Communications Wizard From Pubic Speaking to Multi-Modal Discourse Tim McGee; Philadelphia University	Twisting Presentations to meet State Standards Panel Discussion led by Kathy M. Michaels
Presenters are well advised to go back to the ancient art of the Rhetoric to re-discover principles of effective, audience-specific communication not dominated by the medium of printed words, but fully capable of exploiting all the media and modes available for live presentations in technologically rich environments.	Competencies / Standards / Benchmarks / Anchors / Outcomes / Behavioral Objectives...How do we meet them? How many areas can we assist outside astronomy? History, Math, Science, English, Technical Education, Music, Art...can we assist with their goals? In this panel discussion we will share how many different areas of study can benefit from a planetarium offering a diverse option of programming or courses.
Design Tips for Instruction and Presentation Ted Williams; Mallon Planetarium- Methacton School District Ruth List; Philadelphia Universitiy / Ridley Planetarium	Comparing Technologies for Better Understanding Darryl Davis, Hayden Planetarium / Boston
Planetarium directors play a dual role of presenter and in many facilities the design and produce their instruction and presentations. In that role, we would benefit from the skills of an instructional designer. This session will share tips that are already proven to work in the instructional design field. We will show examples of presentations developed with current software including Flash and Director.	What works best in terms of new and old technology. What's the difference between the various video projection systems? What works best in audio? Is PowerPoint the answer to your presentation needs? What are the advantages of LED vs. incandescent lighting? What can I do with mechanical projectors that I can't do with video? Find out some answers here.