Education, Outreach and Training

Specifications Document Overall objective: Better integration of ecoinformatics, in general, and SEEK tools, specifically, into the ecological and biodiversity sciences. RCN training (annual) New faculty seminar (annual) SDSC tutorials (semi-annual) Distributed graduate seminar (semi-annual) Web resources

Functional Requirements: All Approaches FR1: Cover computer science topics comprehensively, presenting the relevant background information needed to achieve understanding by college-level non-computer scientists. FR2: Stress the barriers to data sharing, benefits of data sharing (e.g. intellectual property issues, reward systems).

RCN Training FR6: Includes coverage of basic ecoinformatics concepts as well as hands-on experience with relevant software tools and technologies. FR8: Is tailored for field biologists, with examples relevant to their needs.

New Faculty Training FR9: Is competitive, for new faculty and post- doctoral associates. FR10: Targets minority and women scholars. FR11: Includes coverage of basic ecoinformatics concepts as well as hands-on experience with relevant software tools and technologies. FR12: Topics include IT challenges for environmental scientists, scientific databases, metadata, data discovery and analysis tools, visualization, scientific workflow, grids, networks, and the WWW. FR13: Closely tied to web resources, so new faculty are introduced to web materials they can use in course development.

SDSC Tutorials FR14: 3 hour, hands on tutorials held during SDSC events. Attendees typically have a high degree of technical sophistication, but little ecological knowledge FR15: Potential for tutorials in other settings (ESA, etc.)

Distributed Graduate Seminar FR17: 10-week seminars on technological issues FR18: Incorporate online instruction from leaders in the field, online discussion by participants, and web-based tutorials. FR19: Involve a faculty member on site FR20: Incorporate 4 universities. FR22: Approved for graduate credit at participating universities. FR24: Topics include IT issues such as semantic mediation, grid technology, and analytical pipelines, and computational approaches in ecology, such as modeling types (e.g. GARP, and other analytical models that will be developed in the SEEK infrastructure).

Web Resources FR25: Easily downloaded and understandable by a college graduate. FR26: Self-contained, with links to additional information and resources. FR27: Where applicable, includes web-based tools and tutorials.

Use Cases UC1: Scientist downloads document that explains how to access and use the EcoGrid, and is successful in using the EcoGrid after reading the document. UC2: Professor downloads metadata training module (powerpoint presentation and reference materials) and successfully incorporates the module or portions thereof in an undergraduate level course on Methods in Ecology. UC3: Students are exposed to SEEK tools and gains hands-on experience in using tools to address their specific needs. UC4: Promote information transfer among students and developers; developers gain understanding of domain specific needs and problems.

Products SW1: Powerpoint module on ecoinformatics basic concepts and best practices. SW2: Powerpoint module on quality assurance and quality control. SW3: Distributable technology training materials. SW4: Documents such as user manuals that promote tool use.

Calendar, Meetings ½ day at Developer’s meeting May Working group meeting at AHM Planned Activities Curriculum design workshops at the meetings, with Postdoc and Web Developers

Milestones Hire web administrator March 2003 Hire education postdoc by Summer 2003 Advertise New Faculty Training at ESA in August, Science and other venues in August and September Proposal for ESA 2004 workshop on advanced technologies RCN training at UNM, Oct. 27-Nov. 7, New Faculty Training, Jan. 5-9, SDSC Tutorial, NPACI AHM Spring 2004?? Distributed Graduate Seminar, Fall RCN training in Costa Rica, Oct

Deliverables for June 1 Curriculum for RCN Training Course outline for New Faculty Training Course outline for Distributed Graduate Seminar Draft strategic plan for web resources development