Development Process - More Resources

NISE Network Product Development Process

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.

diagram showing the NISE Net development process from ideas to results

Development Process

  • Experts discussing a museum exhibition component prototype at a professional meeting

    Scientist review

    • Scientists are involved throughout the creation of NISE Net products, from the early conceptual development through prototyping and final review. Scientists help us to find interesting ideas and present them accurately and effectively. They also help us to communicate the excitement of this field of emerging science, and give it a human face. All products developed by the network are reviewed by a scientist with expertise in the content area before they are distributed.

 

Educators and scientists doing peer review at a meeting.

  • Peer review 

    • NISE Network development teams include educators, exhibit developers, and other professionals from museums across the country. We work together to make sure our educational products achieve their educational goals, are well-crafted, and represent best practices. Our collaborative development process also helps to create new knowledge to advance the field of informal science education and builds capacity at partner organizations. NISE Net products all go through extensive peer review during development.

       Examples of topics covered during peer review include:
      • Content, messages, and learning objectives
      • Program format and appropriateness for setting and target audience
      • Engagement and relevance for target audience
      • Best practices for program design, delivery, and implementation
      • Inclusive audiences design approach to effectively engage underserved and underrepresented audiences, including girls, bilingual audiences, and persons with disabilities
      • Universal design approach to create educational products that are as accessible as possible for museum visitors with a broad range of abilities and disabilities
      • Safety and suggested risk mitigation
      • Professional learning facilitation and training resources for staff and volunteers
      • Ease of sharing and reproducibility to allow for easy editing and adaptation for different audiences
      • Cost and access to consumable materials
      • Documentation of product
      • Appropriate permissions, credits, and acknowledgement
  • Evaluation with visitors at Earth and Space 2017 event at Museum of Science Boston

    Visitor evaluation

    • NISE Network products for museum visitors are prototyped and evaluated with their target audience as an integral part of the development process. Formative evaluation and Team-Based Inquiry approaches help ensure that programs, exhibits, and other visitor experiences are accessible, engaging, and educationally effective. Products go through several rounds of evaluation and improvement before they are distributed.
  • Person filling out a form on a clipboard at a table

    Partner feedback

    • The NISE Network regularly solicits partner input and feedback about our educational materials to ensure future public engagement materials and professional learning resources are useful for our partners.


       

Design, Content Frameworks, and Audiences

 

 

Earth and Space learning framework connecting activities to learning concepts

  • Content Maps and Learning Frameworks

    • The NISE Network has developed learning frameworks and content maps that articulate the key ideas for our educational products, including programs, exhibits, and media experiences. 
    • Earth & Space Science
      • 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.
    • Nanoscale Science

 

Professional Learning Resources about the Development Process 

The Professional Learning section of the website provides resources to help all museum professionals use a similar approach to developing educational experiences related to current science. There, you can find guides for connecting museums with scientists who are willing to assist in program and exhibit development; tools and guidelines to support the development and review of programs, exhibits, and other experiences; and tools for evaluating them with visitors.

slide cover for SEISE dev process

 

 

 

 

 

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

    Evaluation capacity building tools

    • Professional learning and capacity building evaluation tools for educators to improve their products and practices with the intent to more effectively engage public and professional audiences.
    • Learn more about Team-Based Inquiry (evaluation capacity building tool)
    • Learn more about Evaluation Tools

 

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

 

 

Collaboration Guide

  • More Professional Learning Resources 

  • You can find many more professional learning guides on on a wide range of educational program development and implementation topics including evaluation capacity building, Universal Design, safety, games, public engagement, and more
    https://www.nisenet.org/pd