EMAP West Training EMAP West Training PresentationsPresentations

Jay AraasDepartment of Statistics

In partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the Degree of Master of Science

Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, Colorado

Spring 2006

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments Funded by STAR grants awarded to CSU and OSU by U.S. EPA

IT Department at Sheridan College

Numerous people involved in the development of materials: N. Scott Urquhart – director of STARMAP (CSU) Jon Stoddard – U.S. EPA (Corvallis, Oregon) Dave Peck – U.S. EPA (Corvallis, Oregon) Phil Kaufmann – U.S. EPA (Corvallis, Oregon) Bob Hughes – Dyanamac, Inc. Other contributors: A.T. Herlihy (OSU), Michael Barbour &

Kristen Pavlik (Tetra Tech, Inc.)

I.I. Overview of MaterialsOverview of MaterialsI. BackgroundII. Goals

II.II. Content of MaterialsContent of MaterialsI. Questions AddressedII. PowerPoint Training PresentationsIII. Appendices

III.III. FeaturesFeaturesI. Audio (with text)II. BookmarksIII. Links

IV.IV. Disadvantages/DifficultiesDisadvantages/DifficultiesI. AudioII. NavigationIII. Converting PowerPoint to PDF

V.V. Proposed DirectionProposed DirectionI. Suggested ImprovementsII. Future Learning Materials

VI.VI. ConclusionConclusionVII.VII. Questions/CommentsQuestions/Comments

OverviewOverview

BackgroundBackground Big PictureBig Picture

Learning materials developed by STARMAP at CSU and DAMARS at OSU

Used by water quality personnel in States and Tribes to monitor (measure) aquatic resources

Part of EPA’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP)

Specialized MaterialsSpecialized Materials Training presentations for States and Tribes in the western

United States (EMAP West) Address the questions: Why monitor? Where to monitor? What

to monitor? How to monitor? Based on field crew training seminar done in May, 2004, in

Corvallis, Oregon

OverviewOverview

GoalsGoals Main objectivesMain objectives

Further develop the learning materials for surface water monitoring to effectively train personnel whom are involved in the EMAP program

Compile the PowerPoint training presentations into a user-friendly format

Link audio narration and with accompanied text to each presentation

Other goalsOther goals Use knowledge of statistics to incorporate a relevant glossary

of terms and effectively communicate other information to those with limited knowledge in the subject matter

Learn to use Adobe Acrobat program to effectively communicate information via audio/visual demonstrations.

ContentContent Topics AddressedTopics Addressed

What to monitor (measure) at each probability site How to monitor (measure) at each probability site Other topics discussed: Why monitor water; Where to

conduct water monitoring Future topics to be covered: How to summarize data; Case

studies

PowerPoint Training PresentationsPowerPoint Training Presentations Contributed by those involved in the 2004 training workshop Include necessary details and information about surface

water monitoring methods

AppendicesAppendices Detailed instructions to aid the user in viewing and

navigating through the interactive materials Table of Contents provides information on where in the

learning materials one can find information on a certain topic

Glossary provides detailed definitions and explanations of terms or phrases that are commonly misinterpreted

FeaturesFeatures Audio NarrationAudio Narration

Audio narration is used to further enhance the learning experience by providing detailed explanations and examples of the topics covered

Most pages in the presentation have a link to the audio narration located in the upper right hand corner of the page

The user can simultaneously view a corresponding text version of the narration if they prefer to do so

BookmarksBookmarks If you would prefer to jump ahead in the presentation to

a certain section, you can make use of the Bookmarks (which work like a more detailed table of contents).

LinksLinks Links are set up for easy navigation between numerous

pages in the document and the glossary Links to web pages and email addresses are also

present if the user has access to the internet

Viewing InstructionsViewing InstructionsOption 1Option 1: : Set up your viewing screen to a 2-page layout, so that Set up your viewing screen to a 2-page layout, so that

the text version of the audio accompanies its corresponding the text version of the audio accompanies its corresponding slide. Do this by clicking on the “Facing” button, located in slide. Do this by clicking on the “Facing” button, located in the bottom right corner (the button on the far right).the bottom right corner (the button on the far right).

Viewing InstructionsViewing InstructionsOption 2Option 2: : If you prefer If you prefer notnot to have the accompanied text slides, to have the accompanied text slides,

then the click on the “Single Page” button in the bottom right then the click on the “Single Page” button in the bottom right corner (the button on the far left). This will set the viewing corner (the button on the far left). This will set the viewing screen to show one page at a time, automatically enlarging screen to show one page at a time, automatically enlarging the size of the slide that is shown.the size of the slide that is shown.

AppendicesAppendices

Table of ContentsTable of Contents GlossaryGlossary

FeaturesFeatures AudioAudio

In order to access the audio for a slide, double-click on the In order to access the audio for a slide, double-click on the sound icon in the upper right corner of the slide. The audio sound icon in the upper right corner of the slide. The audio selection for that slide will then play – adjustments in the selection for that slide will then play – adjustments in the volume may be necessary. Once the audio for that particular volume may be necessary. Once the audio for that particular slide is finished, it will automatically stop, and you can then slide is finished, it will automatically stop, and you can then proceed to the next slide. proceed to the next slide.

(Note: some slides do not have audio (Note: some slides do not have audio comments)comments)

FeaturesFeatures BookmarksBookmarks

If you would prefer to jump ahead in the presentation to a certain section, you can make use of the Bookmarks (which works like a table of contents).

To access the Bookmarks, click the “Bookmarks” tab, located on the top left of the screen, directly below the left edge of the toolbar. This will list the section headings of the different presentations that were combined to make this one large presentation.

To access individual sections (if you want to go to a certain page in the document), click the “plus signs” associated with each presentation. After doing this, you should now be able to click on an individual heading and go to that page in the document.

Note: Every page in the presentation (excluding the text for the audio) has a relevant heading which should help you quickly access information on a specific topic.

FeaturesFeatures

BookmarksBookmarks The picture below depicts the Bookmarks tab within the The picture below depicts the Bookmarks tab within the

Adobe Reader program.Adobe Reader program.

B = an expanded bookmark B = an expanded bookmark

C = bookmark options (which C = bookmark options (which

includes expanding andincludes expanding and

condensing bookmarks,condensing bookmarks,

and changing text size)and changing text size)

Expands the current bookmarkExpands the current bookmark

(highlighted bookmark)(highlighted bookmark)

FeaturesFeatures LinksLinks

There may be some words or phrases that are There may be some words or phrases that are unfamiliar to you, and you want a brief definition or unfamiliar to you, and you want a brief definition or explanation as to what it means. You can then look explanation as to what it means. You can then look them up in the glossary, located in the Appendix. them up in the glossary, located in the Appendix.

A selection of words and phrases are linked to a A selection of words and phrases are linked to a glossary that you can access from anywhere in the glossary that you can access from anywhere in the document by clicking on that word or phrase. document by clicking on that word or phrase. Otherwise, you can access the glossary by using Otherwise, you can access the glossary by using the Bookmarks.the Bookmarks.

Another important feature of this presentation is the Another important feature of this presentation is the presence of links between pages. For example, say you presence of links between pages. For example, say you were trying to access all the information regarding were trying to access all the information regarding “Laying out the reach.” “Laying out the reach.”

You can use the Bookmarks to search through all You can use the Bookmarks to search through all the headings and find the ones that are related to the headings and find the ones that are related to “laying out the reach.” This will automatically “laying out the reach.” This will automatically move you to another page in the document that move you to another page in the document that has a related topic.has a related topic.

FeaturesFeatures

LinksLinks For example, in the presentation page below, you would For example, in the presentation page below, you would

be able to click on “EMAP” to access a detailed be able to click on “EMAP” to access a detailed description of this program in the glossary.description of this program in the glossary.

DifficultiesDifficulties

AudioAudio Audio from original videotapes was not usable Had to record audio with limited equipment

Conversion to PDFConversion to PDF Embedded objects in PowerPoint are not always

compatible with Adobe PDF (Ex. Video/Audio in PowerPoint converts to JPEG in PDF)

Text and pictures sometimes changed size or format Other obstaclesOther obstacles

Large file size takes time to modify and save, as well as very difficult to send via email

Most changes within document must be done in original PowerPoint file and then converted to PDF

DisadvantagesDisadvantages AudioAudio

Limited playback capabilities

NavigationNavigation Adobe program does not have a quick method of

returning to a previously viewed page

ViewingViewing Not every Adobe program is set up to view the

Bookmarks upon startup Not every Adobe program is set up to view the

materials in the correct format needed to view the narrated text alongside the corresponding presentation page

Different versions of Adobe Reader may not be compatible with all the features

Proposed DirectionProposed Direction

Suggested Improvements to these MaterialsSuggested Improvements to these Materials Better quality of audio Improved audio playback capabilities Correct page layout view upon startup of program Quick navigation to previously viewed page Links to training videos Expanded glossary Any other improvements that can improve the

educational value

Future Focus of Learning MaterialsFuture Focus of Learning Materials How to summarize data Case studies

ConclusionConclusion GoalsGoals

Each goal was addressed and completed

Application to StatisticsApplication to Statistics

Used my knowledge of statistics in developing understandable audio narrations and relevant glossary

Applicable in my career area - teaching

Final ProductFinal Product

Printable version of the presentation with the accompanying narrative text

Interactive PDF tutorial available on CD-ROM

FeedbackFeedback

Any criticism or suggestions are welcome so that the learning materials can be continually refined and improved from the current version

Suggestions and comments can be addressed to myself, Jay Araas, or N. Scott Urquhart, the administrator of the STARMAP program at Colorado State University, at the following email addresses:

Jay Araas – jaraas@sheridan.edu

N. Scott Urquhart – nsu@stat.colostate.edu