STED AGENDA 12/11/2014

1. HDAC (first meeting) Feedback (Sheets, Capesius) (Hydrologic Data Advisory Committee- National)

Notes: Jerad Bales recommended that 3 committees combine into 1 to work with other groups to get more info for techs, etc.  
• HDAC and STED Interaction- Helping each other and giving advice to STED , feedback also should be going from STED and others to HDAC to guide their work too.
• Use of the Training Survey as relates to HDAC- Notes: Training tracks is very important to HDAC as senior technicians.  Training suggestions for the first 5 years.  HDAC is pushing this with discipline offices as well.
• Other- Notes: training needs mined from training survey for things like the data conference/workshop and what training needs there are.  Using training survey as a TOOL and providing feedback about training needs.
• WEBPAGE- Notes from HDAC about some webpage suggestions? Action item?
• HDAC had RFP request-   Notes: Refresher video/TEL??, flip RFP and ask for specific training modules. For example: Indirect training.  *Possibly avoid flash player to use iPads, etc. And possibly be able to save modules for field use. There is still a lot of issues with bandwidth at Science Centers and further issues with Field Offices that have Centers with small pipe size. Many WSC’s have 2 to 3 T-1 lines and do not have access to fiber optics to upgrade to DS-3.

2. NRP Feedback (Brown, Capesius) in Austin, TX

• Brief description of what was discussed
Notes: Great to let them know that STED exists.  Not much discussion after STED presentation, but was great info to pass along and encourage others to be trainers.  Using NRP for some portion of CARP.
• Feedback from NRP group.  Side Note:  News of training center consolidation was discussed.

3. Water Mission Area Training Survey (Ward, all)- Notes: 36 respondents as of today. 12/11/14- 1 month from deadline.  Will send out reminder after new year?  No technical problems reported.  Most responses are from the mid-WEST? so far. Maybe use monthly or bimonthly center director calls to remind supervisors to fill this out. No response from Alaska yet, light in NE, east, etc. Alan will send out todays report on responses so far.  

• Improvements to email sent 12/03/2014
• Data Analysis
• How to use it
• How to convey the results- Notes:  How to use the data, what is our next step?  Alan says he will work with Ralph to have a usable report format.  They will publish that info on HC website and STED website.  Forward the report to Instructors-
• STED may want to advocate which courses might be needed and development of those courses.  
• Jan. 12, 2015 completion
• Posted to STED website in Jan-2015
• Follow-on Items/Thoughts (Richards)
• Identify Center capabilities for Training
• Classroom space
• Adequate internet speed
• Instructors
• Tiered Training (Sheets, Capesius)
• Course List Development / Refinement
• identify which courses will become obsolete or need rewrite with Aquarius processing, or dual-track versions to cover length of migrations process nationwide
• Identify Entry-level, Intermediate level, etc courses

• Develop career ‘tracks’

Notes: Identify which WSCs are having classes and if those can be shared. Communication with STED on training held regionally would be great.  Is there a way to include the NTC in this process?  Maximize the training that is out there. NTC can help.  Joe- Maybe start with training capabilities, facilities, internet bandwidths, fieldwork, etc.  Survey of what we want? Survey Monkey?

4. Individual Development Plans for Hydrologists  as an example (Richards, others)
• Open Discussion
• Format
• Content
• Mentoring (?)
• How formalized?

Notes: Meeting week of Feb 9th, Joe to participate.  Tiered training is harder to decipher for Hydrologists.  How would we do this and what would it contain?  What would help someone coming up through the ranks.  Courses that help intro techs/hydrologist up to supervisory position.  Maybe put a little more focus towards Hydrologists.  Advocating distance learning to help offset costs of training and travel.  Networking is down-side to DL.  Hydrologists- Project management class- MWR Skills Management Team is working on a Project management course, will share with STED. Woody Woodward and Jeff Stoner had a course they went on the road with, but quite outdated.  

Criteria for advancement and expectations would be good.  Kevin will send to STED members IA WSC expectations for Hydrologist promotions from GS-9 to 11 and GS-11 to 12 (done)

Maybe ask Envt Canada about any training ‘tracks’ they might use for Aquarius workflow for new techs?

5. STED Updates (all)
• Identification of Upcoming National/Regional Level meeting for STED representation
• CARP Training Updates
• FY2015 Face-to-Face Meeting
• Data Conference Sept. 14-17, 2015, Jacksonville, FL
• Elsewhere?

Notes:  Maybe do a stand alone meeting or in conjunction with the Intro to Streamgaging/Aquarius class at the NTC.  Denver might be a good location due to location and facilities.    Stand alone might be better as to not compete with other courses/workshop.  Maybe July timeframe, possibly 2 days.  We could actually dive into tiered training and other action items.  Survey…. Funding?  Email to group for mid-July, approval process.