Educators watching Star Formation activity

Professional Learning for Educators

NISE Network has many resources designed for informal educators who work in museums, university outreach centers, and other out-of-school settings. 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.

Training Videos

Training Videos

Training videos are designed to show facilitation strategies for specific hands-on activities, share specific activity content and background information, and model best practices in public engagement.

Facilitation and Science Communication Skills

A video still of a museum presenter in a black shirt talking to a museum visitor in a blue shirt

Museum Presentation: How TO and How NOT TO Interact with Visitors Video Guide

Professional development resources for educators from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.

Solar System Ambassador facilitating an activity at an Earth and Space event

Tips Sheets for Engaging Public Audiences

A collection of tips sheets for engaging public audiences in hands-on STEM activities. Specific sheets for: girls, young learners, bilingual audiences, preparing guest speakers, creating conversations, difficult concepts, and accessibility and inclusion.

Speed-ucate Video or How to have an Effective Science and Society Conversation

In this 7-minute video, actors depict facilitators in a comedic take on a TV dating show to showcase tips for having meaningful conversations with museum visitors.

Edu-Cathalon: A facilitation strategies and best practices training video for engaging museum visitors in STEM related content

Professional development training tool to prepare staff and volunteers to facilitate STEM-related activities.

America's Next Top Presenter

In this 6-minute comedic training video, actors depicts facilitators exploring common pitfalls and best practices for giving an entertaining and educational stage presentation

Strategies for addressing common misconceptions video screenshot

Explore Science: Earth & Space Strategies for addressing common misconceptions videos

Training video for educators and volunteers focused on a yes, and approach to common misconceptions in Earth and space science.

screenshot of a video opening with a live crowd seated in a theater with an overlay opening title "Chem-Attitudes"

Chem-Attitudes with Dr. Braxton Hazelby facilitation training video

Promotional materials for Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities including a facilitation training video.

educator in yellow shirt giving a presentation

Tip Sheets and Short Guides

Sustainability Fellows meeting attendees participating in group activity in Phoenix Arizona 2023.

Ice Breaker Activities and Improv Exercises

What is Learning Conversation Starter activity cards to spark conversations about what learning looks like. These images provide an opportunity for a group to reflect on and share what they feel best represents learning. This activity can help professionals recognize that learning takes many forms and occurs in different settings across a person’s lifetime.
What Values Do You Share? Conversation Starter cards to spark conversations about shared values.This activity is designed to help people working together consider how their efforts align with their values and share what values are important for them, their organizations, and their community
Sustainability Connectagons collaborative construction challenge to help professionals build relationships across their institution or with other community organizations.
Changing Brains Stand Up Sit Down Icebreaker where participants vote with their feet and seats by standing up, or sitting down, to show their agreement with potential scenarios.
Improv Exercises can be used by professionals as icebreakers, getting-to-know-you activities, and as tools to empower educators to facilitate positive, learning conversations with visitors.

Featured Resources for Program Design, Delivery and Implementation

NISE Network DEAI booklet page 22 with a chart showing an increasing level of community-driven involvement in learning experiences

Broadening Participation Booklet

Tools for engaging communities and incorporating inclusive practices into informal STEM projects. The examples are designed to support NISE Network partner efforts in making their experiences more relevant and inclusive in their local communities.

Earthrise Apollo 8 image Image Credit: NASA, Apollo 8 Crew, Bill Anders; Processing and License: Jim Weigang

Making Earth & Space Science More Relevant and Inclusive

These professional learning resources are based on materials developed for the NISE Network’s Earth & Space Project-Based Learning Community which took place in 2021-2022. This project supported museums and science centers across the U.S. in their efforts to make Earth & Space science relevant and inclusive for their local communities. This collection features resources and recordings presented during this virtual online learning community.

Sustainability and Museums: Cover Guide featuring a father and young child interacting with a giant balloon

Professional Resources for Sustainability

Tools to help museum professionals plan and implement sustainability projects and programs.

program guide cover for A NISE Network Guide to Creating Effective Learning Experiences for Public Audiences

Program Development: A NISE Network Guide to Creating Effective Learning Experiences for Public Audiences

Professional development guide for educators from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.

Group of forum participants on cover of Building with Biology Public Engagement with Science guide

Public Engagement with Science: A guide to creating conversations among publics and scientists for mutual learning and societal decision-making

Professional development guide to help staff develop activities and implement multi-directional conversations with visitors at Building with Biology events.

NanoDays: A NISE Network Guide to Creating Activity Kits, Building Communities, and Inspiring Learning

Professional development training tool to prepare staff and volunteers to create their own activity kits, build a community network, create an event, and engage visitors about nanotechnology and other science topics.

Gaming and the NISE Network: A Gameful Approach to STEM Learning Experiences

Professional development guide for educators on gaming and teaching nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.

Let's Do Chemistry safety guide cover showing children using liquid droppers

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Safety Guide

Professional development training tool to prepare staff and volunteers to facilitate the Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry activities.

Tips Sheets for Engaging Public Audiences

forums manual cover featuring a man with a microphone in an audience asking a question

Public Forums Manual

Training guide for planning and holding public forum events.

Featured Resources for Engaging Specific Audiences

More about NISE Network's audiences

Tips Sheets for Engaging Public Audiences

Translation Process Guide

Professional development guide for educators from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.

Inclusive Audiences

Informal STEM education is designed for everyone! NISE Network creates materials that educators and STEM professionals can share with lifelong learners of all ages and backgrounds.

Spanish Language Resources

Many NISE Network educational products are available in Spanish. The NISE Network also has created professional development tools for bilingual graphic design and the translation process.

Bilingual Design Guide

Professional development guide presenting a variety of interpretive and design strategies the Network has used for different bilingual products, including exhibits, programs, and media.

Event Planning and Promotional Guides

Explore Science: Earth & Space Event Planning and Promotion Guide

Promotional materials for Explore Science: Earth & Space events including event planning and partnership guides, release forms, and additional resources in multiple formats.

Children and and facilitator examining color changes on a piece of paper

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Event Planning and Partnership Guide

Event planning guide and professional development resources to prepare staff and volunteers to host your Let's Do Chemistry event.

Two actors dressed as Mary Shelley and Frankenstein's Monster interact with a family of three demonstrating how to make a battery

Frankenstein200 Planning and Promotional Materials

Planning and promotional materials for Frankenstein200 activities including welcome letter, kit content list, event planning guide, photo release form and sample press release in multiple formats.

family and educator using a biology activity with squeeze bottles

Building with Biology Event Planning and Marketing Guide

Detailed guide for planning and promoting your Building with Biology event providing an information on event preparation, volunteer recruitment and training, facilitating conversations.

Sustainability in Science Museums Planning and Promotional Guide

Promotional materials for SustainABLE Kit including logos, colors, and graphics in multiple formats.

Cover of the Zoom in Nano guide featuring girl with ribbon in her hair looking at a paper craft

Explore Science - Zoom into Nano Planning & Promotional Materials

Professional development guide for educators on planning and promoting your Explore Science - Zoom into Nano event.

NanoDays Planning Guide

Professional development guide for educators on planning and promoting a NanoDays event.

Collaboration Guides

Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event

Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings

Professional development guide to help informal STEM educators find, prepare, and work with STEM experts to engage with the public.

cover of the collaboration guide on blue background

Museum & Community Partnerships: Collaboration Guide and additional resources

Professional development guide for educators, researchers, and network leaders from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network

cover sheet image from the museums and university guide with a watercolor illustration of a museum being connected to a university with a bridge

A Guide to Building Partnerships Between Science Museums and University-Based Research Centers

Professional development guide for scientists from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.

Earth & Space Frameworks

Earth and Space learning framework connecting activities to learning concepts

Earth & Space Learning and Content Frameworks

This content framework and learning framework are professional learning tools for informal educators engaging the public with the hands-on activities in the Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkits and the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition.

Making Earth & Space Science More Relevant and Inclusive

Intro to Nanoscale Science / Nano 101

Nano 101 slide presentation showing tiny electronics compared to a finger

Intro to Nano for Educators

Ttraining 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).

Child in a red shirt with a preserved butterfly

Additional Nanoscale Education Resources

Nano Content Maps & Key Concepts

Engaging the Public in Nano Key Concepts

This guide provides an overview of key concepts in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.

A lotus leaf showing off its hydrophobic properties. Water is balled up on its surface.

Nanoscale Science Informal Learning Experiences: NISE Network Content Map

The nanoscience content map articulates the key ideas for our educational products.

Nanoscale Informal Learning Experiences: NISE Network Learning Framework

The NISE Net learning framework indicates how our educational experiences outlined by the National Research Council.

Browse All Professional Learning for Educators

Professional Learning for Educators List

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.

NISE Network group photo - 2019 Network Wide Meeting — Network Wide Meeting 2019

Resource Highlight: Leading and Managing the NISE Network: Practical Solutions for Creating a Flexible National Network

This guide shares what the leadership of the NISE Net did to create this national supportive network whose scope and scale were unprecedented in the science museum field.

More about NISE Network’s Development Process

NISE Network professional learning resources are created through an iterative, collaborative process that involves professionals in the field of informal science education, scientists with expertise in the content area, and targeted public audiences. This process helps to ensure that our resources and guides represent best practices in public engagement, are scientifically accurate, and are effective experiences for all audiences.

NISE Network’s Development Process

Learners putting together a carbon nanotube model

Development Process

NISE Network materials are informed by data and expertise and improved through use and experience. We use an iterative, collaborative development process that involves educators, subject matter experts, learners, and evaluator/researchers. Our products are designed to be flexible and adaptable, to meet the needs of our partner organizations.

Development Process - More Resources

NISE Network educational materials are created through an iterative, collaborative process that involves scientists with expertise in the content area, professionals in the field of informal science education, and evaluation with targeted public audiences. This process helps to ensure that our programs, exhibits, and other products are scientifically accurate, represent best practices in educational product development, and are safe, effective experiences for learners of all ages.