Function:
This committee works in those areas pertaining to planetaria and education, one of the central tenets of the planetarium profession.
The Education Committee fosters the development of academic programs in Planetariums, encourages student pursuit of science education, and supports the continuing professional education of both staff members and other educators. Education encompasses technical, creative, and developmental studies in curricular areas affecting planetariums. The mission of the Committee is to improve the quality of educational programming in planetariums at all levels: Pre-school, grades K-12, pre-college, college, adult, and the general public.
Objectives:
to evaluate proposed programming and curriculum, when consulted, and to provide guidelines for age appropriate techniques/standards.
to keep abreast of relevant educational research, existing information and resources and to inform members about Early Learning Issues, Cognitive Research, K-12 Issues, Postsecondary Issues, Special Education issues.
to provide guidance to students seeking a career as a planetarium educator.
to assist planetarians in their efforts to educate the public about how to be informed consumers and to promote community involvement with planetariums.
to maintain a presence on the IPS website and in the Planetarian.
to sponsor regular paper sessions and workshops at IPS and Affiliate conferences as well as at other educational conferences.
to network with the Outreach Committee for the purpose of enhancing collaboration between industry and academia, between IPS and related educational organizations and to facilitate distribution of educational materials to members.
Members:
Jack L. Northrup <jlnorthrup@fbx.com>, Chair
Director, Martin Luther King Jr. Planetarium
King Science and Technology Magnet
3720 Florence Blvd
Omaha NE 68110
Geoff Holt <gholt@madison.k12.wi.us>,
Director Madison Metro. School Dist. Planetarium, Madison, Wisconsin USA
Francine Jackson <francine_jackson@brown.edu>, Curator, University of Rhode Island Planetarium, Providence, Rhode Island USA
Chris Janssen <cmjanssen@yahoo.com>, Director, Wausau School District Planetarium, Wausau, Wisconsin USA
Kimura Kaoru <kaoru@jsf.or.jp>, Japan Science Foundation Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Anita M. Sohus <anita.m.sohus@jpl.nasa.gov>, Lead, Informal Education, NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California USA
April Whitt <april.whitt@fernbank.edu>, Astronomer, Fernbank Science Center, Atlanta, Georgia USA
