SharingScienceWorkshop&PracticumDisseminationProjectReport

May26,2016

Preparedby:KarineThate&CarolLynnAlpert

StrategicProjectsNISENetworkRISEGroupMuseumofScience,Boston

DRL-0940143

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INTRODUCTIONThisreportdescribesthecumulativeresultsofaNISENet-fundedinvestigationexploringdisseminationstrategiesfortheSharingScienceWorkshop&Practicum(SSW&P)professionaldevelopmentprogram.DevelopedbytheStrategicProjectGroupattheMuseumofScience(MOS),theSSW&Pisaone-day(ortwo-half-day)professionaldevelopmentexperienceforearly-careerresearchersthatisdesignedtoenhancetheirsciencecommunicationskills,sparktheirinterestineducationandoutreach,andpreparethemforsuccessfulparticipationin“free-choice”learningenvironmentssuchassciencemuseums,sciencefestivalsandK-12enrichmentprograms.Whilemanyscientistsandengineersareinterestedincontributingtoeducationandoutreach,andmanyinformalscienceeducation(ISE)organizationswouldgladlywelcometheirparticipation,contentexpertisealoneisnotsufficienttoensurearewardingexperienceforall.TheSSW&Pisdesignedasatime-efficient,low-cost,low-commitmentsolutionforboththehostinginstitutionsandtheuniversityparticipants,preparingresearchersforsuccessfulinteractionswithyouthandcommunityaudiences.ItcanprovideausefulfirststepinbuildingeducationoutreachpartnershipsbetweenresearchcentersandISEinstitutions,anditisoftenimplementedinadvanceofasignificantoutreacheventintendedtobringscientistsface-to-facewithpublicaudiences.ExtensiveevaluationoftheSSW&Pmodel,asdevelopedandimplementedatMOSsince2009,hasconsistentlyshownthatparticipantsfindtheworkshopusefulandvaluable,experienceincreasedconfidenceengagingwithpublicaudiences,andwouldrecommendtheworkshoptotheirpeers.1WithNISENetsupport,theMOSStrategicProjectsgrouphaspursuedthreedifferentmethodsofdisseminatingtheSSW&Pmodeltootherinstitutions:(1)ProducingaPlanning&ImplementationGuideandmakingitavailableontheNISENetwebsite;(2)HostinganImplementationWorkshopinBostonwithfollow-throughphone/emailguidanceforstaffatimplementinginstitutions;and(3)ProvidingImplementationGrantswithfollow-throughphone/emailguidance.Thisreportwillbrieflysummarizethefirsttwostrategies,andthenfocusonthethirdandmostrecentapproach.

THREEDISSEMINATIONSTRATEGIES1) PROVIDEACOMPREHENSIVEGUIDE.TheSSW&PPlanning&ImplementationGuideprovidesinformationandresourcesforplanningandhostingaSharingScienceWorkshop&Practicum,includingsampleagendas,planningtimelines,facilitatorcommentary,media,handouts,andsurveyinstruments.TheguidefirstbecameavailablefordownloadfromtheNISENetwebsitein2011at:http://nisenet.org/catalog/tools_guides/sharing_science_workshop_practicum.(Themostrecentupdate(v.4.0)waspostedinFebruary2016.2)BecausetheNISEwebsitedoesnottrackdownloads,andtherewaslittleevidenceofbroadadoptionof

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theSSW&PbyNISENetpartners,theRISEteamdecidedtoinvestinapplyingamoreactivedisseminationstrategythathadworkedwellforadifferentsetofworkshops.2)iMPLEMENTINGTHESSW&PWorkshop(iSSW&P).Thisdisseminationapproachwasbasedonamodelfirstusedin2012tointroduceasisterproduct-theResearchExperienceforUndergraduates(REU)ScienceCommunicationWorkshops-tonewuniversityproviders.3Itisa'piggyback,'train-the-trainermodelwhichprovidestraineesadditionalscaffoldingbyincludingtheminobserver/participatormodeduringanactualimplementationoftheworkshop.4MOShostedtheiSSW&PonNov.14-16,2014inBoston.WithguidancefromNISENetHubleaders,wesolicitedapplicationsfromstaffwhoworkwithuniversityresearchersatseveralNISENetaffiliateinstitutions.Weacceptedsevenapplicants:AnnaBarrfromtheCaliforniaAcademyofSciences,TracyEnglertfromUniversityofSouthernMississippi,SarahFiskfromSUNYPolyChildren'sMuseumofScienceandTechnology(CMOST),AlexLaubefromtheMarblesKidsMuseum,BrianPollockfromCincinnatiMuseumCenter,NickWethingtonfromspectrUMDiscoveryArea,andWendyBlackwellfromtheNationalChildren’sMuseum.(Wendywasnotabletoattendbecauseofafamilyemergency).Airfare,hotel,somemeals,andworkshopmaterialswereprovidedtoallattendees,whocommittedtoimplementingtheSSW&Pattheirhomeinstitutions.

WorkshopparticipantsweregivenanorientationtotheSSW&P.TheyobservedtheMOSteamrunningaSSW&Pwith16graduatestudentsandearly-careerresearchersfromHarvard,Howard,andMIT,andparticipatedassmall-groupfacilitators.Theyworkedtogethertodevelopavarietyofstrategiesforadaptingandimplementingtheprogramattheirownsites.

The6participantsoftheiSSW&PWorkshopatMOSinNovember2014:fromleft,AlexLaube,SarahFisk,BrianPollock,TracyEnglert,NickWethington,AnnaBarr

TracyEnglert(farleft)andAlexLaube(farright)participateassmallgroupfacilitatorsworkingwithgraduatestudentsduringtheSSW&PatMOS.

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AllsixiSSW&PparticipantssuccessfullyimplementedtheSSW&PattheirhomeinstitutionsduringtheWinterandSpringof2015,preparingatotalof65volunteersfortheirNanoDaysevents.TheMOSteamandthesesixnewSSW&Pprovidersreportedontheirimplementationeffortsatthe2015NISENetworkWideMeetinginJune2015,atasessioncalled“PreparingScientistsforWorkingwithFamilyAudiences:SevenOrganizationsReportonaNewStreamlinedApproach.”5AllsixnewproviderswereinterestedinrepeatingtheSSW&Pimplementationattheirinstitutionthefollowingyear.Tworeported“yes,definitely,”tworeported“yes,withsomechanges,”andtworeported“maybe,”withonerespondentexplainingthattherewereinstitutionalchangesthatcouldprecludethatpossibility.(Asitturnedout,allbutoneoftheinstitutionsdidrepeattheSSW&Pthefollowingyear.)AllsixsitesalsoreportedthattheiruniversityparticipantsappreciatedtheWorkshop&Practicumprogram,andthatithadledtoenhancedexperiencesforvisitors.Fiveofthesixpartnerswerepleasedwiththeirimplementationandonehadmixedfeelings,butallsixidentifiedafewmodificationstheywouldmaketoimprovetheirnextimplementation.Whenaskedtoreportdifficultiestheyhadexperienced,severalrespondentsmentionedthechallengeoffindingsupportforstafftimeandfundingformaterialsandrefreshments.Somementionedthecomplexityofworkingoutschedulingwiththeresearchers.Inanefforttoaddressthefirstofthesechallenges,theMOSteamrequestedandreceivedNISEbackingtotryathirdapproachthefollowingyear.3.IMPLEMENTATIONGRANT+PHONE/EMAILGUIDANCEMotivationandGoalsThisthirddisseminationeffort,launchedin2015,incorporatedtheNISENetmodelofsupplying"mini-grants"toaffiliateinstitutionsforspecificprojects.ToreceivetheSSW&PImplementationGrant,aninstitutionwasrequiredtosubmitanimplementationplanandabriefbudgetofupto$750foreligiblecosts.TheImplementationGrantsweredesignedtoaddressthefinancialchallengesmentionedby2014iSSW&Pprogramgraduatesandtoencouragethemtoimplementasecondtime,incorporatingchangesandlessonslearnedfromtheirfirstimplementation.Weconsideredthesemini-grantskick-starters,givingtheinstitutionsandtheiruniversitypartnersasecondchancetoexperiencethemutualbenefitsthatcanaccruefromtheseactivities,andpossiblymotivatingthemtofindwaystosustainthemovertime.Wealsowantedtoinviteacoupleofnewinstitutionstoparticipateinthe2015SSW&Pimplementationprogramtoexplorewhether,withmini-grantandphone/emailsupport-butwithoutattendinganiSSW&PworkshopinBoston-theycouldstillimplementtheSSW&Psuccessfully.EligibilityandAwardeesInordertobeeligiblefortheImplementationGrant,NISENetpartnerinstitutionswererequiredtocommittoimplementingtheSSW&Pbetween12/1/2015and4/30/2016,withthegoalofpreparinglocalresearchers,graduate&undergraduatestudentsforworkingwithpublic

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audiencesatamuseum,sciencecenter,orlocalscienceoutreachevent.Theywererequiredtorecruitaminimumofsixtrainees,andfollowingimplementation,toadministerevaluationtools,andcompleteanonlinereport.Theirproposalsweretoincludeabudgetoutlininghowtheywoulduseupto$750tocovereligiblecosts,suchasstafftime,materials,participantsupport,andlocaltravel.SixNISENetpartnerinstitutionswereawardedtheSSW&PImplementationGrantsincludingfiveinstitutionsfromthepreviousyearandonenewinstitution.Awardeesincluded:HardinEngelhardtfromMarblesKidsMuseum,TracyEnglertfromUniversityofSouthernMississippi,SarahFiskfromSUNYPolyCMOST,BrianPollockfromCincinnatiMuseumCenter,SuziTaylorfromMontanaStateUniversity,andNickWethingtonfromspectrUMDiscoveryArea.UpdateofthePlanning&ImplementationGuideTheMOSteamreviewedallproviderandparticipantfeedbackfrompreviousyearsofimplementationanddevelopedanextensiverevisiontothePlanning&ImplementationGuideandaccompanyingmaterials,includingthemediaassetsandfacilitatorscripts.Thenewedition,v.4.0,waspostedontheNISENetwebsite,andprinted,chapteredversionswithalldigitalassetsandmediaonaccompanyingflashdrivesweresenttoalltheproviders.6ImplementationResultsNumbers:Fiveofthesix2015awardeeshadsuccessfullyimplementedtheSSW&Pasofthedateofthisreport,May25,2016.Oneawardee(SUNYPolyCMOST)requesteda3-monthextensioninordertoimplementtheSSW&Pwithagroupof55graduatestudentinternsfromtheSUNYPolytechnicInstitute.7Includingallsixproviders,atotalof116universityresearchersandstudentsexperiencedtheSSW&Ptrainingandparticipatedininformalscienceeducationoutreachin2016,inadditiontothosereceivingtrainingatthewell-establishedSSW&PprogramatMOS.

Institution #Trainees

Description

CincinnatiMuseumCenter 9 7graduatestudents(Physics&Engineering)and2undergraduatesfromUniversityofCincinnati

MarblesKidsMuseum 10 5graduateand5undergraduatestudentsfromNorthCarolinaStateUniversity

MontanaStateUniv. 15 Graduatestudents(variousdepartments)atMontanaStateUniversity

spectrUMDiscoveryArea 10 Graduatestudents&post-docs(variousdepartments)fromUniversityofMontana

Univ.ofSo.Mississippi 17 3facultymembers,7graduatestudents,3staffmembers(variousdepartments)attheUniversityofSouthernMississippi

SUNYPolyCMOST

55 55graduatestudentinternsfromSUNYPolytechInstitute

Total 116 Facultyandstudentsfromsixuniversities

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Format:TheformatoftheSSW&Pisflexiblebynature,andtheproviderstookadvantageofthatflexibilitytosuittheirinstitutionalneeds.ThreeprovidersimplementedtheWorkshop&Practicumonasingleday,andthreeprovidersplannedseparatedays.ThoseprovidingtheSSW&Ponseparatedaysgavetheirparticipantsadditionalflexibilitybyofferingseveralpracticumoptionsanddates,thoughonepartnernotedthatthisaddedalayeroflogisticalcomplexitytheywouldseektoavoidinthefuture.

Elements:TheprovidersgenerallyusedmostelementsoftheSSW&Pmodel,witheveryoneincorporatingthecritical“PracticewithPeers”workshopelement.Onepartnernoted“I’vereallylikedhoweasyitistailorthecurriculumtoourneedsandusepartsandpiecesofitinsteadofthewholething.”Funds:Onaverage,theprovidersusedabouthalfoftheirImplementationGrantfundsonstafftimeandbenefits,andtheotherhalfonparticipantsupportsuchasfoodandmaterials.ParticipantFeedback:AFluidSurveys™evaluationformwassenttoallfiveprovidersinearlyspring,withaduedateofMay15.ThosewhocompletedtheirprogramsbeforeMay15reportedthatmostoftheirparticipantsseemedtoenjoytheSSW&Pexperience,andtheyalsoreceivedlargelyfavorableresponsesandgreatfeedbackintheevaluationsurvey.Herearesomeofthehighlights:

MontanaStateUniversitygraduatestudentspracticewithpeersduringtheirFeb2016SSW&P.

MSUgraduatestudentsatpractice.SSW&PparticipantsatworkinthespectrUMDiscoveryArea.

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• Onepartnernotedthataparticipantwhoalreadyhadexperiencedoingoutreachmentionedhowmuchmoreshe’dlearnedattheSSW&P.

• Anotherpartnernotedthatallrespondentssaidtheywouldrecommendtheworkshoptotheirpeers.

• Severalshareddirectquotesfromtheirparticipantevaluations:o “Ilovedseeingthesurpriseandaweonthekids’faceswhentheyaren’texpecting

whattheyobserve.”o “Abigtake-homelessonwastoaskmorequestionsandlistentothestudentsto

engagethem.”o “Ithelpstoseescientificcontributionsinabiggerpictureinordertomakemore

impactonpeople’slives.”ProviderFeedback:ThefiveprovidersallagreedthattheSSW&PPlanning&ImplementationGuidewasveryhelpful,noting:• “Ididn’thavetocreatemyowncurriculum!Everythingwasrightthere.”• “Itprovidesaclearoutline,withtimelinesforplanningandimplementationthathelpgreatly

withorganization.”• “Itwasterrific!Comprehensiveanduseful.”ThefiveprovidersallfeltthattheMOSteamprovidedoutstandingsupportfortheirSSW&Pimplementation,noting:• “Otherthanflyinghereandhelpingtoputiton,Ican’timagineanywaysyoucouldimprove

support.”• “Ihadafewquestions…andtheyhelpedmeimmediately.Thesupportwaspersonalyetalso

extremelyprofessional.Thanks!”Thefiveproviderswereallpleasedwiththeirimplementationoftheworkshop,includingtheonefirst-timeproviderwhohadnotattendedthe2014workshopatMOS.AllsaidtheywouldrecommendtheSSW&Ptootherorganizationsinterestedinpreparingresearcherstoengageineducationoutreachactivities,noting:

• “Thisisanexcellentprofessionaldevelopmentprogram.”• “WeprideourselvesonconnectingSTEMrolemodelstothecommunity…Thisisanice

complimenttoourotherinitiatives.”Challenges:Twooftheuniversity-basedprovidersreportedtroublewiththelogisticsofprovidingpracticumexperiences,sincetheyhadtoprepareanaudienceandavenueinadditiontothetrainingprogram.Severalprovidersnotedthecontinuingchallengeofschedulingtimesthatworkforeveryoneinvolved.TwoproviderswhoheldtheWorkshop&Practicumonthesamedaynotedthatitwasalogisticalchallengetomovefromtheworkshopareatothepracticumlocation.

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OVERALLOUTCOMESWhatwastheimpactoftheSSW&Pontheseinstitutions,theirresearcherpartners,andtheirvisitors?DidtheyconcludethattheSSW&Pwasworthcontinuinginthefuture?Welookatthreepertinentdimensions:perceivedbenefitstovisitors,tohostinginstitutions,andtobuildingstrongerpartnerships.BenefitstoVisitors:WhenaskediftheyfeltprovidingtheSSW&Presultedinamorerewardingexperienceforvisitors,fourprovidersreplied,“Yes,I’mconvinceditdid”andonereplied,“Yes,Ithinkitdid”,commenting:• “Inoticedanoveralllevelofcomfortand

enthusiasminthevolunteers.Thisinturnmadethevisitorexperienceenjoyableandfun.”

• “Ourvolunteersweremoreconfidentandhadbetterlanguagetousewithouruniqueaudience.”

• “Inoticedamarkeddifferencebetweenmyvolunteerswhoattendedtheworkshopandthosewhodidnot.”

• “Ourvolunteerscomewithlotsofcontentknowledge,butarelessexperiencedwithhowtosharesciencewithyoungchildren…attheappropriatelevel.Thisworkshophelpedthemgainthoseskillsanddelivermoreeffectivelyonthefloor.”

BenefitstoHostingInstitutions:WhenaskediftheSSW&Pwouldbeimplementedagainattheirinstitutioninthefuture,allfiveprovidersindicatedthatitwouldbe.Somehavefurtheradaptationsinmind.Severalnotedthattheyplantoadaptthecontentforothersubjectareasandtargetaudiences,andonementionedtheywouldseekoutmorefunding.Fosteringstrongerscienceoutreachpartnerships:AkeymeasureofsuccessfortheNISERISEeffortistounderstandwhetherdisseminationandimplementationoftheSSW&Pcancontributetothedevelopmentofstronger,moresustainablepartnershipsbetweenresearchcentersandISEinstitutions.TheiSSW&Pawardeesreportedabigimpactinthisregard:

• “ThisprogramwasagreatcatalystforformingapartnershipwithourGraduateSchool.Wenowhaveopenedthedoorforfuturesciencecommunications/outreachprograms.IalsoconnectedwithmanygraduatestudentsIneverwouldhavemet,andthey’rebecominginvolvedinourotheroutreachprograms.”

• “TheSSW&Poffersaframeworkforpartnershipswithuniversitiesandscientists.Itisalsopartofourfutureplanstoengagemoreuniversityandindustrypartnersinourprograms.”

MSUgraduatestudentsleadNanoDaysactivitiesforstudentsatIrvingElementary’safterschoolprogram.

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• “It'saformalopportunityforustoimproveaprogramthatwe’dalreadybeenrunning…it’spaidoffinspadestohaveaready-madecurriculumtoprovideprofessionaldevelopmenttoourvolunteersfromtheuniversity.”

• “AnadaptedversionoftheSSW&Phasbeenincludedasaportionofagrantwehaveappliedfor…WearealsoplanningonofferingtheSSW&PtoNSFgrantawardeesatpartneruniversities.”

• “Ourcampushasanewfocusonactiveandengagedlearningandthisworkshopisidealforthosepurposes…whenanoutreachcomponentisbeingplannedbydifferentSTEMdepartments,thisissomethingwecanofferthem.”

• "Theprogramisagreatfitforour[museum]becausewe'repartoftheuniversitysystemandthisisagreatwaytopreptheresearchersforpreparingtoworkwithourvisitors."

CONCLUSIONWe'velearnedthattheSSW&Pisadaptabletoavarietyofmuseumsettingsandsomeuniversitysettings,andthatitisusefulfordevelopingandstrengtheninglonger-termcollaborationsbetweeninformalscienceeducationoutreachprovidersanduniversityresearchgroups.Allinstitutionssucceededwiththeirimplementation,andallintendtocontinuewiththeprogram.TherevisedPlanning&ImplementationGuideworkedextremelywellforallproviders.TheoneproviderwhohadnotattendedtheimplementationworkshopatMOStheprioryearwasabletopulloffasuccessfulimplementationusingjusttheGuidealongwithphoneandemailsupport.Whileobtainingsupportforstafftimeandmaterialscanbeahurdle,providingmodeststart-upfundingofjust$750persitealongwithexcellentplanningandimplementationmaterialsandstrongphoneandemailsupportproducedverygoodoutcomes,inmostcasesalreadyleadingtowardstrongertiesbetweentheuniversityandISEpartners.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThesedisseminationresearchandevaluationprojectswerecarriedoutwithfundingfromNSFAward0940143.TheauthorswishtothankalltheiSSW&PworkshopattendeesandprovidersfortheirspiritedeffortspioneeringtheSSW&Pprogramattheirhomeinstitutionsandfortheirvaluablefeedbackandadvice,whichhascontributedgreatlytoimprovingtheprogramaswellasthedisseminationandadoptionprocess. 1UMassDonahueInstituteResearch&EvaluationGroup."SharingScienceWorkshops,Fall2009SurveyResults."2009.Additionalsurveyresultsfrom2010-2015aresummarizedintheevaluationsectionofTheSharingScienceWorkshop&PracticumPlanningandImplementationGuidev4.0(2016),pp.55-57(seeurlbelow).

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2Alpert,CarolLynn;Thate,Karine.SharingScienceWorkshop&PracticumPlanningandImplementationGuide,v.4.0.MuseumofScience,Boston:NISENetwork,2016.Accessed5/25/16athttp://nisenet.org/catalog/tools_guides/sharing_science_workshop_practicum.3Alpert,CarolLynn.REUScienceCommunicationWorkshopPlanning&ImplementationGuide,v.5.0.MuseumofScience:NISENetwork,2015.Accessed5/25/16athttp://www.nisenet.org/catalog/reu-science-communication-workshop-planning-implementation-guide-v50.4Alpert,CarolLynn."Beyond“Train-the-Trainer:”aPreliminaryReportonaNewScaffoldingStrategyforScienceCommunicationWorkshopDissemination."MRSOnlineProceedingsLibraryArchive,2013.5Presentationmaterialsfromthatsessionareavailableat:http://www.nisenet.org/2015-network-wide-meeting-concurrent-sessions.6Opcit.,AlpertandThate.7Thisextensionwasgranted,inlightoftheopportunitySUNYPolyCMOSThastoanongoingprograminpartnershipwiththeInstitute.ThatlargegroupwillbesplitintotwoworkshopshostedattheUniversityinJune,withfourpracticumsessionshostedattheChildren’sMuseuminJuly.