Guides

The NISE Network has developed many written professional learning guides designed to increase the capacity of informal science educators and scientists. Guides cover a wide variety of topics from program development, collaboration, inclusion, and implementation.

Publications and published papers from the NISE Network projects printed and arranged in a pile — *List of externally published* **journal articles and professional publications with citations**

More Types of Publications

Publications List with Citations of externally published journal articles and professional publications
Due to copyright restrictions, only a small portion of published journal articles are archived on this website.
Evaluation Reports and Research Studies
Evaluation is a process used to improve the design and function of educational experiences in informal learning environments and to measure progress toward goals.

Program Implementation, Delivery, and Facilitation

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.

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.

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.

Stock photo of a group of people laying on couches and the floor

Nanotechnology and Society Guide

This professional development guide serves as a short introduction to how museum professionals can engage visitors in conversations about nanotechnology and society and help make our science centers a place where the future of nanotechnology is not just imagined, but shaped.

cover image for the nano exhibition guide about creating a small footprint exhibition

NISE Network Guide - Nano Exhibition: Creating a Small-Footprint Exhibition with Big Impact

This guide provides an overview of the Nano small footprint exhibition created by the NISE Network.

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.

A bearded man in an audience talking on a microphone seemingly asking a question.

Science Cafe Guide

Professional development guide for educators on hosting an event that brings scientists and the public together in an informal setting.

Inclusion and Accessibility

DEAI Booklet Cover showing an illustration of a diverse group of people

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Booklet

Tools for engaging communities and incorporating DEAI practices into informal STEM projects. The tools, practices, and project examples are designed to support NISE Network partner efforts in making their experiences more relevant and inclusive in order to promote a more equitable STEM future in our local communities.

Translation Process Guide

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

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.

Image of the cover for the Universal Design Guidelines for public programs in museums booklet on green background featuring three learners in front of test tubes

Universal Design Guidelines: Programs guide

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

Image of the Universal design booklet cover featuring a blue background and a young girl interacting with a display monitor

Universal Design Guidelines: Exhibits

Professional development guide for educators, researchers, and network leaders from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network in 2009.

Collaborations, Experts, and Networks

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

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 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.

Leading and Managing the NISE Network booklet photo cover on green background featuring a large group of educators

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

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

Public Engagement with Science and Science Communication

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.

Let's do Chemistry Guide Design Strategies and Facilitation Techniques to Encourage Positive Attitudes Toward Learning Chemistry in Museums and Informal Settings cover

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Professional Development and Training Materials; Framework and Strategies Guide

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

Science Communication Workshop Title Card

REU Science Communication Workshop Planning & Implementation Guide

Professional development materials designed to enhance the science communication skills of undergraduate students participating in research programs such as NSF's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs.

Sharing Science Workshop & Practicum Planning & Implementation Guide

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

Bringing Nano to the Public: A Collaboration Opportunity for Researchers and Museums

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

Safety

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.

Evaluation Capacity

TEAM Based Inquiry Guide Cover page showing image of three people talking

Team-Based Inquiry Guide (evaluation capacity building tool)

Professional development guide and evaluation tools for educators and researchers that explain each step of the Team-Based Inquiry (TBI) process and feature ways TBI is used in the NISE Network to improve educational experiences and professional practice.

Evaluating the NISE Network cover image of post-it notes on a white wall.

Evaluating the NISE Network: Reflections from the Evaluation Workgroup

This NISE Net Evaluation Team document goes into specifics of how we set up our team, what impacts we decided to measure, and what methods we used to collect data on a national scale. It also talks about ethical considerations we took into account and how we shared our work with multiple audiences.

Learning 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.

Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Professional Development and Training Materials; Framework and Strategies Guide

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

Screen shot of the Nano learning framework screencap featuring three activities with annotation

Nanoscale Informal Learning Experiences: NISE Network Learning Framework

This nanoscale science learning framework tool indicates how our educational experiences support the six interrelated strands of learning documented by the National Research Council.

Engaging the Public in Nano Key Concepts

Professional development guide for educators on Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.

Nanoscale Science Informal Learning Experiences: NISE Network Content Map

The NISE Network nanoscale science content map features key ideas for our educational products, including programs, exhibits, and media experiences.

Event Planning and Promotional Guides (by topic)

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.

Sustainability in Science Museums Planning and Promotional Guide

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

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.