Further Development of Contents and Features of the OceanTeacher IODE Program of the IOC of UNESCO, towards Marine Biodiversity Data Management. Antonios Stamoulis Promoter: Prof. Dr. Paul Nieuwenhuysen Advisor: Dr. Wouter Rommens

2 Outline Introduction A.UNESCO --> IOC --> IODE B.What is OceanTeacher? C.Why Marine Biodiversity Data Management? Problems to solve, Accomplishments and Conclusions 1.Structuring the field of Marine Biodiversity Data Management 2.Are the available Marine Biodiversity Data Management training material useful? 3.Populating the System 4.Collection and Update of Marine Biodiversity Online Databases List 5.Is the New Platform Suitable? Does it perform well? General Conclusion

3 UNESCO, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation with headquarters in Paris. UNESCO-IOC, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on Marine/Ocean science. UNESCO-IOC-IODE, International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange with HQ in Ostend, dealing with Data and Information Management in Ocean science. UNESCO-IOC-IODE, International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange with HQ in Ostend, dealing with Data and Information Management in Ocean science. UNESCO --> IOC --> IODE Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

4 What is OceanTeacher? “OceanTeacher is an online system which provides training tools for data and information exchange for ocean science.” These tools are used during IODE Training Courses but can also be used for self training and continuous professional development. UNESCO decided that OceanTeacher’s context will be further expanded by including Marine Biological Diversity. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

5 is the current website. Accessible free of charge. During 2009, training resources were completely re-written and converted to a “wiki” format. What is OceanTeacher? Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

6

7 Why Marine Biodiversity Data Management? Monitoring of biodiversity has been considered necessary for assessing the health of ecosystems.

8 Why Marine Biodiversity Data Management? There is poor knowledge on marine biodiversity, considering the size of oceans. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

9 Why Marine Biodiversity Data Management? Marine scientists are generally poorly informed about data centres and information management procedures. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

10 Why Marine Biodiversity Data Management? Marine biologists are willing to share their knowledge with others over the internet. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

11 1. Structuring the field of Marine Biodiversity Data Management Structure = Table of Contents = Curriculum of a course Why structuring? Topic of Marine Biodiversity Data Management is not covered yet in OceanTeacher, thus no curriculum exists Structure gives user/student an overview of all contents To facilitate browsing and editing Consistency with other, already structured, courses of OceanTeacher Without structure, training material cannot be used Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 1/5

12 Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 1/5

13 1. Conclusion The structure created provides a sound basis curriculum on which Marine Biodiversity Data Management experts can build upon their courses or further develop it. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 1/5

14 CREATION OF CURRICULUM  Thesis Checklist

15 2. Are the available Marine Biodiversity Data Management training material useful? There is a need for training material for Marine Biodiversity Data Management. Material from previous courses are available but need to be evaluated whether they can be used in future courses. Existing material can serve as a starting point, a basis for future creation of more. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 2/5

16 2. Are the available Marine Biodiversity Data Management training material useful? Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 2/5

17 2. Conclusion Training material from previous courses will be re-used in future courses, providing valuable, high-quality content in the area of Marine Biodiversity Data Management. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 2/5

18 CREATION OF CURRICULUM  EVALUATION OF TRAINING MATERIAL  Thesis Checklist

19 3. Populating the System Several of the evaluated files were uploaded on OceanTeacher, under pages that had been previously created, following the structure proposed. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 3/5

20 Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 3/5 3. Populating the System

21 3. Conclusion A number of high-quality training material is now available online through pages that have been created. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 3/5

22 CREATION OF CURRICULUM  EVALUATION OF TRAINING MATERIAL  POPULATING THE STRUCTURE  Thesis Checklist

23 Why Updating, why Collecting? 4. Collection and Update of Marine Biodiversity Online Databases List Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 4/5 Final product available online through OceanTeacher. Additional links added to enrich it. List limited to Marine Biodiversity Databases ONLY. File listing WWW links to online biodiversity databases from around the world provided from IODE.

24 4. Collection and Update of Marine Biodiversity Online Databases List Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 4/5

25 4. Conclusion The updated Databases List enhances OceanTeacher with a concrete, full list of online-available databases in the area of marine biodiversity available to marine biodiversity scientists and researchers around the world. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 4/5

26 CREATION OF CURRICULUM  EVALUATION OF TRAINING MATERIAL  POPULATING THE STRUCTURE  COLLECTION AND UPDATE OF DATABASES  Thesis Checklist

27 5. Is the New Platform Suitable ? Does it perform well? A.New OceanTeacher’s wiki examination o Browsability/usability studies B.New OceanTeacher’s suitability study o Is wiki technology suitable for OceanTeacher? Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 5/5

28 5. Conclusion New OceanTeacher is based on an improved computer platform, able to reach the aims of the IODE program, having the advantage –among others- of high flexibility in creating new documents by remote users. Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions 5/5

29 CREATION OF CURRICULUM  EVALUATION OF TRAINING MATERIAL  POPULATING THE STRUCTURE  COLLECTION AND UPDATE OF DATABASES  BROWSABILITY & SUITABILITY STUDIES  Thesis Checklist

30 General Conclusion