NISE Net offers professional development tools, guides, workshops, and training materials to help educators and scientists increase their capacity to engage the public in learning about current science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics.
Resources include:
- Training videos
- Online workshops
- In-person workshops and meetings
- Guides and training materials
- For Scientists
- Intro to Nano and NanoDays
Training Videos for hands-on activities
Training videos are available for many NISE Net educational products:
- NISE Network vimeo site: https://vimeo.com/nisenet
- Explore Science: Earth & Space training videos:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/explore-science-earth-space - Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition walkthrough video:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/sunearthuniverse - Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry training videos:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/explore-science-lets-do-chemistry-training-films - Frankenstein200 training videos:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/frankenstein200-activity-training-videos - Building with Biology training videos:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/buildingwithbiology - Sustainability training videos:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/sustainability - Explore Science: Zoom into Nano training videos:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/exploresciencezoomintonano - NanoDays training videos:
https://vimeopro.com/nisenet/nanodays-training-videos - Nano exhibition walkthrough video:
https://vimeo.com/30215003
Training Videos (focused on facilitation skills - not content-specific)
- Facilitation Video: Edu-Cathalon: A facilitation strategies and best practices training video for engaging museum visitors in STEM related content
- Facilitation Video: Speed-ucate Video Or How to have an effective science and society conversation; This video playfully highlights best practices in engaging in a meaningful conversation between a museum facilitator and a visitor, while pointing out some common pitfalls.
- Facilitation Video: Museum Presentation: How TO and How NOT TO Interact with Visitors Video Guide: These short films to help train staff and volunteers for engaging the public in a museum setting
- Facilitation Video: Chem-Attitudes with Dr. Braxton Hazelby facilitation training video: This funny video will help you and your facilitators run activities in a way that encourages participation and positive attitudes towards learning about chemistry.
- Facilitation Video: Explore Science: Earth & Space Strategies for addressing common misconceptions videos
- Facilitation Video: America's Next Top Presenter: This comedic training video highlights common pitfalls presenting techniques and reinforces best practices for giving an entertaining and educational stage presentation.
- Video: How to make a how-to instructional training video
- Templates: NISE Network Program and Activity Templates: Includes tools for developing educational programs: a lesson plan template, NanoDays activity guide template, slideshow presentation template, peer review guidelines, and Universal Design checklist.
Online Workshops
Online workshops and brown-bag conversations allow educators and scientists to share and learn from each other. NISE Net offers these professional development opportunities free of charge.
Available on the website:
In-person Workshops and Meetings
NISE Net organizes workshops and meetings to support project work. Many presentations from past workshops, meetings, and conference presentations are available for download.
- Upcoming Events
- Events Archive please see navigation menu to the right such as Network-Wide and Regional Meetings
Other examples of workshop materials:
- Bilingual Audiences Workshop Resources
- Science Writing Workshop: How to tell a story, How to conduct an interview
- Universal Design of Educational Programs Workshop Resources
- Nano and Society Training Materials
- Sharing Science Workshop & Practicum Planning & Implementation Guide
- REU Science Communication Workshop Planning & Implementation Guide, v.5.0
Guides & Training materials
NISE Net has many resources designed specifically for informal educators. These include training materials for our educational products, tools and guides related to engaging public audiences in learning about current science, and information about developing and strengthening collaborations.
Available on the website:
- All professional development tools for educators
- Program Development - Creating Activities and Programs
Program Implementation, Delivery, and Facilitation- Development Process overview
- Guide: Let’s Do Chemistry: A Framework and Strategies to Encourage Positive Attitudes Toward Learning Chemistry in Museums and Informal Settings - identifying evidence-based design strategies that increase participants' interest, relevance, and self-efficacy
- Guide: Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Safety Guide (2018)
- Guide: Program Development: A NISE Network Guide to Creating Effective Learning Experiences for Public Audiences
- Guide: NanoDays: A NISE Network Guide to Creating Activity Kits, Building Communities, and Inspiring Learning
- Guide: NISE Network Guide - Nano Exhibition: Creating a Small-Footprint Exhibition with Big Impact
- Guide: Gaming and the NISE Network: A Gameful Approach to STEM Learning Experiences
- Guide: Public Forums Manual - Nanotechnology (2010) and Building with Biology (2016)
- Guide: Science Café Guide
- Guide: Public Engagement with Science: A guide to creating conversations among publics and scientists for mutual learning and societal decision-making
- Templates: NISE Network Program and Activity Templates
- Facilitation training - Improv Exercises
- Improv exercises for staff and volunteers to facilitate positive, learning conversations with visitors
- Technology and society
- Evaluation capacity-building
- Guide: Team-Based Inquiry guide
- Videos: Team-Based Inquiry training videos
- Guide: Evaluating the NISE Network: Reflections from the Evaluation Workgroup
- Resources, templates: NISE Network Program Evaluation tools
- How Can an Evaluation Advisory Committee Benefit a Project? The NISE Network Example (2017)
- Content maps / key concepts
- Event planning and promotional Guides (by STEM topic):
- Explore Science: Earth & Space Event Planning and Promotion Guide
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Event Planning and Promotion Guide
- Frankenstein200 Event Planning and Marketing Guide
- Building with Biology Event Planning and Marketing Guide
- Sustainability in Science Museums Planning and Promotional Guide
- Explore Science - Zoom into Nano Planning & Promotional Materials
- NanoDays Planning Guide
- NanoDays Training Materials
- Collaborations:
- Guide: Museum & Community Partnerships: Collaboration Guide and additional resources including videos, templates, and more
- Guide: A Guide to Building Partnerships Between Science Museums and University-Based Research Centers
- Inclusive Audiences:
- Inclusive Audiences background and resources
- All Audiences
- Tips for Engaging Visitors one-page tip sheet
- Tips for Visitor Conversations one-page tip sheet
- Girls
- Tips for Engaging Girls at NanoDays one-page tip sheet
- Tips and Tricks for Engaging Girls in Museum Programming recorded online workshop
- Bilingual Audiences
- Collaborations to reach under-served audiences
- Guide: Museum & Community Partnerships: Collaboration Guide and additional resources including videos, templates, and more
- After School Framework
- Universal Design
- Network management
For Scientists
NISE Net creates resources designed specifically for scientists. These include tools and guides on science communication, methods for engaging the public, and ways to enhance collaborations.
Available on the website:
Collaborations between museums and scientists
- A Guide to Building Partnerships Between Science Museums and University-Based Research Centers
- Small Steps, Big Impact: An Online Guide for Science Museums Developing Partnerships with University-Based Research Centers
- Bringing Nano to the Public: A Collaboration Opportunity for Researchers and Museums
Science communication tools
- Workshop intended for graduate students and early career scientists: Sharing Science Workshop & Practicum Planning & Implementation Guide
- Workshop intended for Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) students: REU Science Communication Workshop Planning & Implementation Guide
- Mastering Science and Public Presentations Video
- Making the Most of Broadcast Media Workshop Video
- Creating Stunning Scientific Posters Seminar Video
- Science Writing Workshop: How to tell a story, How to conduct an interview
- All Professional Development Tools for Scientists
We encourage you explore the RISE resource page:
Intro to Nano and NanoDays
NISE Net has a variety of training materials and resources to introduce professional and volunteer educators to nanoscience, engineering, and technology topics, as well as guidance and approaches for engaging the public in learning about current science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
How small is small? What's a nanotube? The basics of nano can be difficult to grasp. The NISE Network has developed a number of media assets that can help you get a grip on the smallest of science!
Available on the website:
- Intro to Nano Professional Development Resources
- Intro to Nano Content
- Technology and society
- NanoDays