Science and Technical Employee Development Team (STED)

Agenda
Date: February 7, 2013
Time: 2-4pm Eastern
Bridge: 703-648-4848
Code: 97727
WebEX: NONE

Attendees:

Mike I., Tj Lane (OED), Jen D., Alan W., Dave P., Jim K., and Pat L.

Agenda Items:

Next meeting: April 11, 2013

Updated STED members on…. 
Pathway program for hiring and steep learning curve – update sent in from Joyce Williamson
In the past, an email would go out to the Center directors asking for their interest in a student hydrologic technician.  The goal was for SCEPs although a few STEPs were recruited as well.  Once we had the list, each of the 4 colleges had a somewhat local representative that went to the schools and interviewed students and for the most part, selected them on the spot or within a day or two.  This took a lot of coordination but has worked well in the past.

This year, the email asking for interest has gone out but there is some confusion over whether the Centers are looking for temporary (the old STEP student) versus a career student (SCEP).  Once those numbers are defined, there will be a single nationwide advertisement for career/permanent student positions.  At this point, for recruitment of temporary students, it has not been determined if a single advertisement will go out or not.  Interviews will be done over a very short time frame by a single team using electronic methods.  Centers have the option of assisting with those interviews if they want and I have been surprised that most have chose not to.  The goal of this change is to make every effort to even the playing field.  For the 4 schools that have programs specific to training of hydrologic technicians, the change will be big.  Instead of having a local USGS person come in and interview them face to face, they will be required to set things up with webcams and computers so that a remote group can conduct the interviews.  Seems a little cold to me and I guess we will see how that all falls out.  It will definitely be interesting.  I have not heard when the advertisement will go out.

NTC

• Brochure distribution at NTC – Brochures are given to student in ALL Water Classes, by Gloria Armstrong.
• Water mission area contributed 29k to Adobe software maintenance again this year per STED recommendation/request
• Funding for Tel
• Franceska gave10k – asking that STED protect the future of the WQ Principles course and always assure that a portion of the tuition for updating and development
• Jen said next round their course will have funds to contribute

Jen will add a $100 line item in cost spreadsheet for each student to go in STED account for future TEL development. 

• Travel restrictions impacting Water training discussion (please see Compainion document in agenda area on Sharepoint)- Jen and Alan will send out a draft memo for STED members to revise.  3/5/13- this document has be reviewed by STED and will be sent to Jerad Bales for final review in the next few days.

CARP Training – what can STED’s role be? Jen and Alan working with Chuck to define this role.  Jen offered that STED could come up with a list of people that may be good candidates as Super Users.

AI- Pat would need to know more about time required by CARP.  Jen asked Chuck and the Super Users may all be decided by CARP, however, that has not yet been determined.

CARP – How can we help – new ways to deliver courses?  Conference call with Chuck Schalk described course delivery options.  Summary of conversation notes.. Jan 30, 2013
Conf call about training
Present: Chuck (CARP), Jennifer Dansie (STED), Alan Ward (OED)

Purpose of the call: start dialogue about how STED and OED can support AQUARIUS training for rollout and beyond

Intro: Chuck described the planned training model:

• All users get 1 week of training, core users get 2. Second week of training may be split from first by a month so that the users have time to learn the software and know what questions to ask. WSCs ultimately decide who should get the 2nd week.
• CARP will work with WSFTs, WSCs, tech offices, etc to identify and train 40-60 core superusers who will be involved in training and support during rollout and possibly beyond. Trainers would be expected to go in teams of 4. "Buddy" system proposed so that neighboring WSCs have resources near at hand. NOTE: Jennifer said that STED may be able to help identify good candidates.
• WSCs expected to pay for anyone from their office to become a superuser/trainer (also by a 2-week course, but many might be involved in the development process earlier and have a head start).
• CARP project expected to pay time and travel for the 4-person teams to put on the training at the WSCs during rollout.
• Long-term, we expect to follow the NTC and regional class structure currently in place to train new users.

1. TEL (technology-enabled learning)

• OED has software that can be used to design and create TEL, including assessments, video, "powerpoint" stuff, and so forth. A person has to be trained on the use of the software, and at the end of training is given a license for the software. OED offers a 3-day training course at NTC periodically for this software, but by the end of March 2013 expects to have an on-line version of the training available. Terry Kenney has taken the class and has a license. 
• OED recommends that their TEL designer (TJ Lane, I think) be involved in the course content and writing tasks early so that the content could be translated easily into a TEL format later, if needed.
• OED releases an annual RFP to fund development of content for on-line training. Because of our 18-month development process, Alan thinks that we should apply for funds maybe next year, if appropriate.
• As CARP is recruiting superusers, think about whether one or more of them would want to participate in the task of helping to develop the TEL course.
• TEL material is optimal for long-term use (refreshers, how-tos, something like a video FAQ, plus core training for parts of the software) and prerequisites.
• Assessments (tests, feedback, assignments) can be written into the TEL course.
• After being developed, TEL courses could be stored on and served from a dedicated server at NTC. Usage includes tracking metrics.

2. STED 

• The STED web page is http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/STED/
• Emphasizes the links to all the training resources, including DOI Learn, OED, NTC, etc. Works well interactively with DOI Learn to get you to the course you're looking for.
• Also can promote courses by targeted advertizing.
• Meets bimonthly by phone but can convene special meetings as needed
• Very helpful with communications and managing expectations
• May be able to help CARP identify and recruit superusers for rollout training

OED can provide professional training to the trainers to enhance their teaching skills.
OED can live-stream on-site training for those who might be unable to attend the superuser training (or other on-site sessions).

What does CARP need to do to arrive at a decision to create and provide TEL courses for CARP?
- Take a look at TEL courses.
- Get Tj Lane immersed into the CARP content. Not all of it is TEL-worthy, and she'll be able to provide expert guidance.

3. ACTIONS

• Chuck will send Alan the info needed (might need a login as well) so he and/or Tj can get to the AQ Support portal and see the kind of support videos they provide.
• Jen will go over our discussion today with the STED at their call in early Feb to get them on board.
• Alan will send Chuck info about the Laptop Deployment and Audience Response System programs.
• Alan will invite Tj to the Feb 7 STED call so she is aware of what we talked about.
• Chuck will look at the Water Procedures and Policies course on the STED site to see what a TEL course looks like.

Upcoming data conference in May – has been postponed/cancelled.

• Plenary session- Jim K. said he would present, if needed.
• Booth?- Jen contacted CRACD member to get booth, but it is postponed.

Web pages- Members should take time to click on links.  Possible rotation of duty was  brought up again - no AI was decided.

Face to Face?  Not at this time.  Hopefully in the future, it does have value.

Membership and Rotation –

• Positions that are vacant or who is do to rotate off

Tony- Studies Section Chief-  Jen will work with Rod Sheets to come up with a nominee.
Joyce- Data Section Chief- Jen will work with Woody Woodward for nominations.
Franceska- will stay on until further notice.  Contact Donna Myers if needed.

• New STED Chair Nomination and vote.  Jen was voted in as the new chair by all members on the call.

Round Robin

Discussion and Action Items

Training:

AI: Nicole – Work with Alan on an RFP process and a document describing a plan of suggested TEL classes that may be threatened in the near future with the 20% reduction in travel and find an audience to gain leverage.

AI: Jen-  Intro to SG Class has separate line item for $100 per student for future development of TEL. 

Memo (s)
          
AI: Jen and Alan-  Send out Live Streaming memo to STED members for revision.

Web Page:

AI: All members- check web pages periodically for broken links and errors on any web pages.  Please report errors to Jen or Mike I.

AI: STED: Set up schedule and assign members the monthly duty of checking web pages for errors.  Find tools that can be used to scan pages for dead links.

Interaction with Data Committees and Others

AI: Jen- Meet with Data Committees to discuss training needs.
     Jen spoke to WestDac Feb 11th and most of the discussion revolved around the HydroTech toolbox.  WestDac is going to review the data in the link to determine if content can be found elsewhere or should be updated.  CHIDER call was cancelled for 3/5/13.  Jen spoke with CRACD at Data Conference extensively- will reach out to them in future.

AI:  Determine equipment needs and identify network issues at office that may interfere with video streaming - Reach out to those involved in streaming and video conferencing options to test and plan for how to optimize these options to extend the training beyond the traditional classroom and still be effective.

AI: Tip Sheets? Field Manuals? Lecture Series?- Working with Data Committees to house tip sheets on their national webpage.
AI: recommendation to QW and GW technical offices to develop training options for career path similar to SW (http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/osw/training.html)