Using Moodle with relevance to NMHS’s Simon Gilbert, 4 th EUMETCAL Workshop, 26 th August 2008

Contents Introduction ‘Management by e-learning’ Needs Analysis Methodology Feedback from students Future developments Moodle innovations Document Management System International Collaboration in Meteorological Training

Introduction

Simon Gilbert VCP Project Manager for the Met Office Part of International Relations team Responsible for training development and delivery – mainly e-learning Changing role to Deputy WMO Manager Trainer at the Met Office College Forecaster, mainly public weather service and TV

Administered jointly with WMO and the Statistical Services Centre (University of Reading) Delivers a number of different types of training Nearly 2000 registered users Proven effectiveness in supporting face to face training events and delivering ‘pure’ e-learning Free at the point of access – paid for by Met Office contribution to the WMO Voluntary Cooperation Programme

‘Management by e-learning’

Outcome of the WMO ‘Programme for the Least Developed Countries’ Worked with WMO ETR and the Office for the LDC on course aims and objectives Lack of training for middle-level managers in the Met Services of LDC’s Need to gain access to development funding Increase the effectiveness of management processes

‘Management by e-learning’ Topics covered General management – effective meetings, leadership styles NMS Specific issues – operating as part of the government infrastructure, national development plans Project Management – proposing successful projects, communication, branding and marketing issues Facilitators: Yvette Ramos: Training consultant – WMO, ITU … Chris Bowerman: Management trainer Steve Palmer: Technical Cooperation Manager, Met Office

‘Management by e-learning’ Course delivery methodology Download and read Forums Interactive lessons Chats Assignments Project Proposal Contest with £1000 prize Students 45 students, 19 of whom completed all of the 7 assignments 27 countries represented

‘Management by e-learning’ Give an example of three things you have done differently in your Met Service as a result of this course ‘There are several project proposals waiting for approval and implementation, with the help of this course two of these projects were revised and approved’ ‘Used some of the skills while preparing a project proposal on strengthening early warning systems for climate change’ ‘I have actively participated in the project design of my met. service and I am planning to write a proposal for the station network expansion’

‘Management by e-learning’ Future Developments Delivered again September 2008 Course may be ‘modularised’ in the future Spanish version of the course in collaboration with AeMet

Innovative ways to use Moodle

Document Management System WMO Meetings Loads of documents, many changes EC LX: 10 days in June 2008; Fifty documents issued; often 3 iterations before acceptance … Previous EC: ‘Paper fest!’ Commercial solutions investigated and ruled out on cost grounds Moodle database module proved suitable

International Collaboration Universities across RAI are starting to introduce meteorology programmes Desire from Universities in Europe and US to share expertise and materials Moodle can be used to facilitate this exchange Working initially in collaboration with KNUST (Ghana), University of Reading and University of Leeds (UK), University of Cologne (Germany)

Questions & answers