Making Earth & Space Science More Relevant and Inclusive

These resources are designed to help museum and science center educators make Earth & Space science relevant and inclusive for their local communities. This collection of resources features written materials, slides, and videos presented during this virtual online learning community for you to explore at your own pace.

These professional learning resources are based on materials developed for the NISE Network’s Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community which took place in 2021-2022. This project supported 100 museums and science centers across the U.S. in their efforts to make Earth & Space science relevant and inclusive for their local communities.

• 1) Goals and Outcomes
• 2) Project Planning Worksheet
• 3) Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Tools and Practices
• 4) Making Earth & Space Content Relevant
• 5) Earth & Space Learning and Content Frameworks
• 6) Community Collaborations
• 7) Working with Experts
• 8) NASA Resources Showcase
• 9) NISE Network April 2022 recorded keynotes and concurrent sessions

1) Goals and Outcomes

The NISE Network Earth & Space project-based professional learning community was focused on making Earth & space Science relevant and inclusive for local communities. This PDF outlines the overarching goals for the program as well as our intended goals and outcomes for participants.

• Professional Learning Community Goals and Outcomes (PDF)

2) Project Planning Worksheet

This is a helpful tool you can use when planning any project; revisit and revise this document as your project progresses. Some of the categories may not be applicable to your project.

• Project Planning Worksheet (Word Doc)

3) Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Tools and Practices

The Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion tools and practices are designed to support informal educators in making their program offerings more relevant and inclusive in order to promote a more equitable STEM future for all of our local communities.

• Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Booklet: Tools for Engaging Communities and Incorporating Practices into Informal STEM Projects
• Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Tools and Practices Overview (PDF Slides)
• Recording of the Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Tools and Practices overview (Vimeo, 8-min)
• Imagine a Pair of Boots Conversation Prompt (PDF Slides)
• Recording of the Imagine a Pair of Boots Conversation Prompt (Vimeo, 5-min)
• Recording and resources from the NISE Network Online Workshop: Tools for Engaging Communities and Incorporating Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Practices

4) Making STEM Content Relevant

These Making STEM Content Relevant resources provide informal educators with examples on how to make your program offerings more relevant to your visitors and your local community.

• Making Earth & Space Content Relevant overview (PDF Slides)
• Recording of the Making Earth & Space Content Relevant overview (Vimeo, 22-min)

5) Earth & Space Learning and Content Frameworks

The 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.

• Earth & Space Learning Framework and Content Framework
• Earth & Space Learning and Content Frameworks Overview (PDF Slides)
• Recording of the Earth & Space Learning Framework and Content Framework Overview (Vimeo, 9-min)
• Online Workshop Recording: Earth and Space Resource Roundup - an overview of all the NISE Network has to offer

6) Community Collaborations

These Community Collaborations resources offer an introduction to collaborations between museums and community organizations.

• Museum & Community Partnerships: Collaboration Guide and additional resources  
• Community Collaborations Overview (PDF Slides)
• Recording of the Community Collaborations Overview (Vimeo, 4-min)
• Creating Successful Collaborations: Museum and Community Partnerships video (Vimeo, 5-min) 

7) Working with Experts

These Working with Experts resources help informal STEM educators find, prepare, and work with STEM experts to engage with the public.

• Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings (PDF)
• Collaborating with STEM Experts Overview (PDF Slides)
• Recording of the Collaborating with STEM Experts Overview (Vimeo, 5-min)
• Online Workshop Recording: Working with STEM Experts - If Only There Was A Guide… Now There Is!  

8) NASA Resources Showcase

This NASA Resources Showcase video offers a summary of NASA showcase presenters featuring NASA Science Activation public engagement resources for informal educators.

• NASA resources showcase list of resources and presenters (PDF)
• NASA Resources Showcase Video (Vimeo, 28-min)

9) NISE Network April 2022 recorded keynotes and concurrent sessions

Plenary keynotes and concurrent session recordings from the Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community 3-day culminating meeting in April 2022. It features 4 plenary keynote presentations and 9 concurrent sessions on a variety of topics. 

• Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community April Convening Full Agenda

Plenary Keynotes

1) Bringing the Perseverance Landing to the Deaf and Blind Community - Caitlin Ahrens, PhD, NASA Goddard

• Presentation Slides (PDF) 

2) Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Space Science - Derrick Pitts, HON.D, The Franklin Institute

• Presentation Slides (PDF)

3) James Webb Space Telescope - Christine Chen, Space Telescope Science Institute

• Presentation Slides (PDF)

4) Engaging Indigenous Youth and Adults in Community-Focused Efforts Around Climate Change - Elena Sparrow, PhD, University of Alaska Fairbanks

• Presentation Slides (PDF)

Concurrent Sessions

A detailed list of concurrent sessions and presenters for the Earth & Space Project-Based Professional Learning Community April 2022 Convening

1. Session A1: Co-creation and You (Slides | Recording, 47-min) 

2. Session A2: ​​ Working Well with Experts (Slides | Recording, 38-min)

3. Session A3: Working with K-12 Schools, Teachers, and Homeschoolers (Slides | Recording, 38-min)

4. Session B1: Connecting Meaningfully with Specific Communities (Slides | Recording, 43-min)

5. Session B2: ​​Collaborating with Indigenous Communities (Slides | Recording, 40-min)

6. Session B3: Collaborating with Libraries (Slides | Recording, 42-min)

7. Session C1: Approachable Ideas to Address Extreme Weather (Slides | Recording, 44-min)

8. Session C2: ​​ Stories of Community Collaborations (Slides | Recording, 42-min)

9. Session C3: Earth & Space Science for Everyone: Developing Materials and Partnering with Deaf and Blind Communities (Slides | Recording, 41-min)

Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award numbers NNX16AC67A and 80NSSC18M0061. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).