The Exploratorium Network for Exhibit-Based Teaching (ExNET) provides a way for the Exploratorium to share its exhibits and educational expertise with museums and science centers around the world. Since ExNET was established in 1999, the Exploratorium has partnered with more than twenty-five institutions. ExNET is part of the Exploratorium’s Exhibit Services Group, which was formed in 1989 to meet an international demand for replicas of Exploratorium-designed exhibits.
ExNET offers theme-based exhibit collections, each consisting of thirty to thirty-five exhibits. Partner institutions keep a collection for a year. But these collections aren’t “traveling shows,” nor do they come with a prepackaged training program. ExNET’s goal is to help each partner achieve its individual strategic objectives, so the Exploratorium matches its staff and other resources with the professional development needs of each participating institution. Partners might want to learn how to use the exhibits as teaching tools, present a program of related hands-on activities, or design additional exhibits of their own.
ExNET also conducts workshops on topics of interest to a number of partners. Popular workshops include how to strengthen an Explainer program, how to design and market a festival, and how to create professional development programs for teachers. Partners have been especially enthusiastic about inquiry learning workshops; in fact, several have developed their own inquiry institutes through their participation in ExNet.
Because the partner institutions are part of a network, they also share ideas and learn from each other. This aspect of ExNET is especially valuable to smaller or geographically isolated science centers that often have a difficult time connecting with colleagues. In addition, the ExNET model has inspired institutions in several states to develop statewide science networks of their own including the Texas Network for Exhibit-Based Teaching (TexNET), Oklahoma Museum Network (OMN), and the Arkansas Discovery Network.
