A Look Back at Week 12

Not too sure if we needed to post for this past week, but since we did have class last Wednesday and it's not August 6th yet, I figured I might as well.

ITS A GREAT MONDAY MORNING as I just found out that my Director is putting in the paper work to hire me as a console operator! YAYY!!! So, I would say my chances of continuing to work here just went up to 99%, assuming everything goes well with the paperwork! =)

Still working on my presentation for the 6th and I haven't practiced it yet, so I'm getting slightly nervous about that... I hope I can stretch out my slides to do enough talking for 12 minutes...

A Look Back at Week 11

LAst week was pretty good... On Saturday I did the narration for "Florida Skies" again. It went MUCH smoother this time around and I didn't forget to leave anything out... The only thing I would like to improve on is elaborating more maybe? It would be nice if I could make the show last at least 50 minutes, and right now I'm at about 40-45 minutes.

I really need to start preparing for my presentation on the 6th. I don't know about you guys, but I am having trouble making my presentation fit the 10-12 minute time frame. I feel like there is just not that much for me to explain... suggestions are appreciated!

A Look Back at Week 10

I finally narrated my first show! I did Florida Skies, the one you guys saw last week...
I think I did okay for my first time, never having practiced! There were definitely a few constellations that I skipped over that I wanted to point out, but I'll try to remember them for next time...
Other than that, this week I have just been trying to work on my show presentations using the computer programs we have... ITS HARD! I don't know what any of the commands mean or what they do... My director has been away at a conference, so he hasn't been able to help me... His assistants have not been able to help too much either because they are not well practiced on it either... So I'm not sure if I will get both shows done before the internship ends... we'll see I guess!

A Look Back at Week 9

Hi, so thank you guys for coming to the planetarium on Friday! My Director was super excited that we were over MAX CAPACITY! I hope you all enjoyed it...

I finished my first lesson plan.... I am waiting on feedback for it so I can start making my show next week... I planned on making 2 LP's and 2 shows...but maybe I will only have time for one...its taken a lot longer than anticipated....

Hope everyone else's are coming along nicely! See you on Wednesday =)

A Look Back at Week 8

First, I would just like to say that I am thoroughly confused about what week it is in everyone's post... All I know, is that I have posted every week since we started and I title mine "A Look Back at.." and whatever week it was.... so I'm pretty sure this past week was the 8th week of class, and this post is due for the 9th week...ugh. whatever!

Planetariums going great as usual... My director has been out of the office and his assistant s an adjunct professor so he has been teaching during the mornings ever since summer B began, so I run the planetarium by myself! It's fun, I really like being in charge of myself. Can't wait for you all to come visit on Friday! Remember to show up at 630 so you can get your tickets and good seats! $4.00 for UF students, and free for Santa Fe...

Have a great week 9 coming up!

A Look Back at Week 7

Same old, same old at the Planetarium during the work week, BUT I worked my first Saturday night yesterday! I finally got to see a music 360 show (featuring U2) and that was some trippy stuff! It was cool though. I learned how to do cashiering and tickets also...normally during the week, the school groups pre-pay because they reserve their shows. It's only on Friday and Saturday nights that we actually "sell tickets". My co-worker who only works on the weekends reminds me a LOT of Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory...so I was thoroughly entertained.

P.S. Disney was a blast! <3

A Look Back at Week 6

This week was really busy! Lots of groups came in and my director also travelled a couple times to different school groups or camps. I started learning more constellations that way one day I can do the show Florida Skies, which is the one you all are going to come see on the 11th at 7pm (Make sure you arrive at 630, and its $4.00)....
I just found out I am going to Disney this weekend for my birthday!!! YAYY!! =)
Hope everyone else has a good weekend too!

A Look Back at Week 5

This week was so much FUN! Wednesday we went to the MOSH, the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville. We toured it and saw all of the exhibits including the Megalodon exhibit. It was a much larger exhibit than I anticipated, and I thought it was really interesting. We also went to see Dynamic Earth inside their Planetarium. They have a much bigger dome than we do at Kika Silva Pla, but I think our sound system and lighting trumps theirs for sure!

Today, we walked over to the Zoo here at Santa Fe, and I got to see that for the first time. I've been suggesting a lot of ideas to my Director, a gift shop being one of them. He's thinking about it and wanted to get some ideas from the Zoo's gift shop.
I love my internship! =)

A Look Back at Week 4

This week was sort of boring. The only group that came in was an actual college class at Santa Fe, and they watched a couple of shows. Other than that I just spent the week watching shows I have not seen yet (in case you are wondering how this is considered work, it is because I have to familiarize myself with the information in each show in order to answer possible questions).  I also did some training on one of the machines called the "Chronos", which was fun. I learned a lot of constellations, and how to manipulate the view and such.

I also figured out the topics for the lesson plans in my project.
I am too excited for this week when we go to Jacksonville's science museum and planetarium on Wednesday!! ^_^

Have fun in class without me!

A Look Back at Week 3

This week I got to experience a couple new shows I hadn't seen before. One of them called "Molecularium" is designed for kids K-5 and it takes you on a trip in a tiny spaceship to explore different atoms and molecules, while explaining that they make up everything in the universe. As an older viewer, the show is actually kind of creepy with all of the animations and songs involved. If I knew what an acid trip felt like, I would probably compare it to that.

I also got to control the "Planets in the House" show a few times this week while Jim did the narration. On Monday, I think I am going to give narrating a try. I'm not nervous, but there is just so much information that I have to say to coincide with what is being displayed, so if I miss saying something I can't go back to it. I don't think I have a chance to practice either. You know how it's nice to practice going through a Powerpoint presentation out loud and saying everything you want to say? Well yea I don't get to do that, which would have been nice to do... So I just have to wing it, and hope for the best.

I asked about the FCAT preparation shows they want to develop, and they are aware that FCAT is being taken away...They still want to develop the shows for each grade level, because the standards still exist. They just won't necessarily be used for FCAT, but instead as learning supplements.

A Look Back at Week 2

I really LOVE working at the Planetarium. The groups of kids that come in every day are always so excited and engaged in the shows that we provide. One little girl was so happy afterward, she thanked me by running up and giving me a hug. The only thing I enjoy more than seeing their enthusiasm is listening to them shout out answers when we do the "Planets in the House" show. This show is not prerecorded like most of the ones we have so one of the assistants has to narrate it. Today in particular, we had a super smart bunch of first graders who surprised me with how much previous knowledge they had. For example:

Jim the assistant: "Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, in fact it is so large, does anyone know how many Earth's we could fit inside Jupiter?" ....(The answer is 1000)

1st grade girl: "Well ....I know that it could probably fit all of the planets in our solar system inside of it...so maybe....1000 Earths?!"

Needless to say, both Jim and I were speechless and way impressed she got the answer, but also by her critical thinking skills!

Also, my mentor showed me an outline of topics that the Planetarium needs to develop shows for this year. The purpose of these shows are to act as a component to FCAT preparation, and will be based off of different standards for each grade level (K-12). I may abandon my original idea for a project, to work on some of these instead.

A Look Back at Week 1

After the first week back, I have realized that this is going to be the busiest summer of my life! I have so much reading and writing to do for my two classes. I have to cram all of the classwork into my weekends because during the week I have my internship at the planetarium everyday, followed by working on fiber optic research in the astronomy department, volunteering at freshman preview to promote my dance company Floridance, and in about a month I start teaching at a dance studio a few days a week.

Are any of you guys this busy? or busier?! I could use a venting buddy, lol. 

So yeah, I really like the planetarium so far. The younger groups of kids that come in get so excited, its adorable! And, for my project I might be able to create my own original show... I am starting to think about ideas...It doesn't necessarily have to be about Astronomy either...It can be about the weather, the ocean, geology, etc....let me know if you guys have any suggestions! Especially if we do the field trip thing and you want to see something specific!

Intro

Hi everyone, my name is Dina Zinni. I am an Astronomy major at UF and I'll be doing my summer internship at the Kika Silva Planetarium at Santa Fe. I am so excited and can't wait to share my experience with you all!