Mid-Term GBIF Committees Meetings

eLearning

Alberto González TalavánGlobal Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

May 2011

Outline

Introduction to eLearning

GBIF Training Survey

Thematic scope

The way forward

Questions & answers

1/12

Definition

2/12

e-Learning

is the use of information and

computer technologies to create

learning experiences

Some types

3/12

Standalone courses

Virtual classrooms courses

Games and simulations

Embedded learning

Blended learning

Mobile learning

Knowledge management

Rationale

Development

Associated expenses

Teachers/facilitators

Time saving for

studentsEcological impact

Savin

g

Price per studient

Customised learning

Better use of time

Bigger potential audience

Better adaptation to (some) contents

Economic saving?

4/12

Advantages

Lower investment: infrastructure, administration…

No/lower transport costs

Better opportunities to improve the training resources

Better reputation: innovation, savings, new technologies

More flexible, cheaper and more effective learning

Lower impact in personal life, less stress

More efficiency

Better adapted to disabilities

Producer:

User:

5/12

Disadvantages

Longer and more expensive production phase

Difficult to predict impact

Can be a challenge to producers and users

It can be difficult to maintain motivation

Knowledge evaluation can be complicated

Need a technical infrastructure that needs to be maintained

Common Suggestion:

start with a small project and document it throughtfully! 6/12

GBIF Training SurveyGood level of interest, limited resources:

• Training, a shared responsibility• Content distributors > creators• Secretariat as aggregator and producer reinforced

Electronic learning? Yes but...• Not interested in deployment• Simple solutions• Social media not exploited

Thematic interests • VERY diverse• Technical skills• Data quality

7/12

GBIF Training Survey (II)Which type of electronic learning program does your Node have at the

moment (if any)? Which type of electronic learning program do you plan to have in the future, taking into account the funds and human resources you

have available?

8/12

Thematic ScopeTop 10 topics

Ordered by score in Interested + Really InterestedBiodiversity data curation: assessing and increasing data quality (taxonomically and spatially)

26

Biodiversity data publishing: persistent identifiers (i.e. GUIDs , LSIDs, DOIs)

25

Biodiversity data indexing: software (GBIF registry and toolkits) 25Biodiversity data publishing: geospatial web services (i.e. OGC web services)

24

Biodiversity data use: policy and application oriented 24Biodiversity data capture in the field (including collection of specimens, direct observation, survey data, tracking, etc)

23

Biodiversity data digitisation: software (i.e. Brahms , Specify , Herbar ) 23Biodiversity data curation: metadata (record and dataset levels included) 23Biodiversity data publishing: protocols and standards 23Biodiversity data publishing: impact (citation, repatriation improvements, annotations)

23

Biodiversity data use: science oriented 23

Top 10 topicsordered by score in Really Interested

Biodiversity data curation: assessing and increasing data quality (taxonomically and spatially)

18

Biodiversity data use: science oriented 18Biodiversity data use: policy and application oriented 18Biodiversity data curation: sensitive data 16Biodiversity data publishing: persistent identifiers (i.e. GUIDs , LSIDs, DOIs)

16

Biodiversity data digitisation: software (i.e. Brahms , Specify , Herbar ) 15Biodiversity data curation: metadata (record and dataset levels included) 15Biodiversity data indexing: software (GBIF registry and toolkits) 15Biodiversity data analysis and interpretation: gap analysis 15Biodiversity Informatics: The GBIF informatics infrastructure 14Biodiversity data publishing: protocols and standards 14

9/12

Thematic Scope (II)Peterson, T., 2010, A Digital Training Curriculum for Biodiversity Informatics

10/12

The way forward

Customisation of test server

Development of 1st test course on… data quality?

Publication of 1st course

Impact evaluation

2nd Training Survey to determine next steps

11/12

Questions&

Answers

12/12