professional

A Study of Communication in the NISE Network (Network Communication Study), conducted during the sixth year of the grant, sought to learn how the four primary communication components that were developed in the first 5 years of NISE Net (NanoDays, face-to-face meetings, the regional hub structure, and the nisenet.org website) are functioning within the Network. In particular, the study explored how these components communicate information, ideas, and practices related to NISE Net between and within the three Network tiers.  Read more

This report presents findings from the evaluation of the online professional development workshop on the topic of hosting nanoscience cafes.  Read more

In September of 2008, participants at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science’s NISE Net Regional workshop provided feedback on the Museum of Science’s Nano 101 Program for museum educators. A total of 17 participants completed self-administered surveys about the program. This formative evaluation assesses the program’s effectiveness in educating museum educators about the basics of nanotechnology.  Read more

In August of 2008, participants at the Science Museum of Minnesota’s NISE Net Regional workshop provided feedback on the University of Wisconsin MRSEC’s Nano 101 Program for museum educators. A total of 20 participants completed self-administered surveys about the program. This formative evaluation assesses the program’s effectiveness in educating museum educators about the basics of nanotechnology.  Read more

The Museum of Science partnered with the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing to create a sequence of professional development experiences in science communication and hands-on learning for graduate students and post-docs. The Sharing Science Workshops were intended to help graduate students who work with the CHN program to improve their abilities to present their research to a variety of scientific and nonscientific audiences. The sequence included a half-day "Sharing Science" workshop, a half-day guided "Practicum" with museum visitors, and optional participation in NanoDays events at MOS. The UMass Donahue Institute undertook an evaluation of the first two programs to better understand their impact.  Read more

The Museum of Science collaborated with the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing to develop a two-session science communication workshop program for REU students at Northeastern, UMass-Lowell, and the University of New Hampshire. This evaluation of the CHN REU program - conducted by the Donahue Institute- focused in great depth on the outcomes of the science communication workshops, from pp 12 - 27. One of the purposes of evalution was to determine whether there would be value in trying to disseminate the workshops to science museum and research center partners throughout the NISE Network.  Read more

This report provides an overview of findings from the formative evaluation of the Science Communication Seminar conducted at the University of Massachusetts Lowell on February 19, 2009.  Read more

Regional workshops were held across the country in 2008 and 2009 to support the various Tier leaders in their work. This is the evaluation of those efforts.  Read more

The second round of NISE Network Regional workshops were held during the winter of 2009 at the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS), The Franklin Institute (TFI), and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (FW). The regional workshops were developed to address five goals. Formative evaluation was carried out to measure the success in meeting these goals. The evaluation was carried out using a mixed-methods design. Data collection methods included 1) partner pre-survey, 2) workshop observations, 3) partner post-workshop survey, 4) partner resource survey, 5) NISE Net staff post-workshop survey, 6) debrief with regional workshop team, and 7) content analysis of workshop correspondence, documents, and action plans.A total of 49 partners completed the pre-surveys, 46 completed the post-surveys, and 45 filled out a resource survey.  Read more

NISE Network Regional workshops were held during the summer of 2008 at The Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM), the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science (NCMLS), Sciencenter (SC), and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The regional workshops were developed to address five goals. Formative evaluation was carried out to measure the success in meeting these goals. The evaluation was carried out using a mixed-methods design. Data collection methods included 1) partner pre-survey, 2) workshop observations, 3) partner post-workshop survey, 4) partner resource survey, 5) NISE Net staff post-workshop survey, 6) debrief with regional workshop team, and 7) content analysis of workshop correspondence, documents, and action plans. A total of 61 partners completed the pre-surveys, 65 completed the post-surveys, and 63 filled out a resource survey.  Read more