Astronomer and Educator: Friend or Foe?

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Session 43 -- Planetariums

[43.06] Astronomer and Educator: Friend or Foe?

D.K.Duncan (U. of Chicago and Adler Planetarium), A.Singel (Adler Planetarium)

Warning: This presentation might offend some astronomers and science or planetarium educators. It is not indended to offend, but to provoke discussion, and it is based on real-life experiences of astronomers and planetarium educators working together for the first time. It will presented as a skit. \\ Scene 1: An astronomer and a planetarium educator meet. The astronomer gives advice which the educator finds impractical and useless. The educator tells the astronomer what he teaches, and the astronomer finds it well-presented, irrelevent and misdirected. Scene 2: An astronomer and planetarium educator meet. The astronomer asks the educator what he could do to most help the planetarium. A surprising discussion ensues. The educator and astronomer agree on 3 basic ingredients which are usually required to create the best science programs.

8:30a program listing