MAAPCNIA: A Boost to Authentic MET Instruction

This paper presents an innovation in teaching strategy in one major subject in the Maritime Education and Training (MET) program of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP). This strategy makes use of an instructional aid called MAAPCNIA (MAAP Celestial Navigation Instructional Aid), conceptualized and designed by Capt. Daniel S. Torres, Jr. MAAPCNIA encompasses color-coded spheres that depict navigational triangle. This triangle is composed of a blue celestial sphere representing horizon system of coordinates and a white sphere enclosing a globe characterizing time diagram and celestial equator and terrestrial systems of coordinates. With this instrument, celestial spheres can be easily visualized compared when using one-dimensional drawing. Hence, understanding of orthographic projection, which is essentially the core of appreciation and mastery of this tough subject, is enhanced. This paper focuses on the development and impact of MAAPCNIA since its conception in 2004, towards authentic teaching-learning process in Celestial Navigation.