Further Development of Contents and Features of the Further Development of Contents and Features of the OceanTeacher IODE Program of the IOC of UNESCO, OceanTeacher IODE Program of the IOC of UNESCO,

towards Marine Biodiversity Data Management.towards Marine Biodiversity Data Management.

Antonios Stamoulisastamoulis@gmail.com

Promoter: Prof. Dr. Paul Nieuwenhuysen Advisor: Dr. Wouter Rommens

2

OutlineIntroduction

A. UNESCO --> IOC --> IODE

B. What is OceanTeacher?

C. Why Marine Biodiversity Data Management?

Problems to solve, Accomplishments and Conclusions1. 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.

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.

UNESCO decided that

OceanTeacher’s context will be

further expanded by including

Marine Biological Diversity.

Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

5

• http://www.oceanteacher.org 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

6Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

7Introduction Problems, Accomplishments and Conclusions

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 courseWhy 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

12Introduction 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

20Introduction 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

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