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  1. Attendees: Joe C. Ferrell K, Jim K, Jim C, Kevin R, Melinda C, Deb S, Alan W, Rod S, Mike I.
  2. Introduction
  3. Face to Face Logistics here
    1. Hotel Murano and Hampton Inn
    2. Sheets car, Capesius car from Hampton Inn
  4. Groundwater Workshop and use of DOI Learn
    1. Discussion OGW - Todd K. setting up Short Course handling with Melanie Hood (OED). Now a GW Conference
    2. Conference call 02/12/2016 (see email 02/13/2016)
      1. Short courses input
        1. Do we want an Overall Workshop registration so we can get feedback mechanism. YES
        2. Use DOI Learn for Short Course registration, replaces Event Manager - after Workshop
        3. Effort valuable to help OED identify needs to help track WMA training occurring outside of the NTC/HIF
        4. New system likely 2 years out or more
      2. If spot on Plenary, Rod may present STED overview
  5. Distance Learning Updates
    1. FY2014 Awardees
      1. Scientific Project Management--Three online Prereqs followed by Instructor-Led class
        1. First revisions completed.
        2. Online modules reside on OED’s DL server. Vicki is wanting to teach her Scientific Project Management--Train-the-Trainer course at the NTC in May 2016 before finalizing prereqs.
          1. Train-The-Trainers selection routed through RD’s to Centers.
      2. AQUARIUS for Core Users
        1. Deployed 4/29/16 for next set of Core Users.
        2. Revisions from beta testers have been made and 4 modules have been republished to OED’s DL server.
      3. AQUARIUS for Local Data Managers (LDMs)
        1. Nine modules published to OED’s DL server for beta testing on 4/29/16.
      4. Index Velocity
        1. Modules are complete.
        2. The online training is available at:
          https://hydroacoustics.usgs.gov/training/SW1319TEL.shtml and consists of eight modules.
    2. FY2015 Awardees
      1. Scientific Project Management--Train-the-Trainer (T3)
        1. OED will be video streaming Vicki teaching her 3-day class at the NTC in May 2016.   
        2. Some Denver scientists will be participating in the class in May.
        3. OED will edit videos and course will be deployed on OED’s DL server, hopefully before August 2016.
      2. Data Management
        1. Complete
        2. Three modules served from OED’s DL server and the Data Management server (Denver):
          1. Metadata 101 module:  
            https://oedbreeze.cr.usgs.gov/dm-module1/
          2. Planning for Data Management:
            https://oedbreeze.cr.usgs.gov/plan4datamngmt/
          3. Scientific Data LifeCycle:
            https://oedbreeze.cr.usgs.gov/dm-sdl/
>These are available at https://www2.usgs.gov/datamanagement/index.php


      1. Water Use
        1. On temporary hold.  One of the authors on these courses is currently out having surgery.  
      2. YouTube ADCP Mid Section measurements
        1. Several videos have been added to the HydroTube site.
        2. Nick Stasulis, one of the senior video developers recently got the Data Chief job in his WSC so there may be delays getting videos published to HydroTube.
        3. Videos can be viewed from URL:
          http://water.usgs.gov/hydrotube/index.html
      3. Flood Frequency Analysis
        1. One of the SMEs  of the course is on extended sick leave.  The other authors are covering this SME’s regular work duties and so getting the materials together for the online course has been difficult.
        2. They will try to have the course completed by the end of the fiscal year or the beginning of FY17.
    1. Request for FY2017 Proposal
      1. From HDAC - Transfer of Invasive Species during our day-to-day work?
        1. Is this something we want or can do it guide the selection?
        2. If so, how do we proceed?
          1. Hydrotube?
          2. Ask Invasive Species Program, FWS, BLM, BOR, etc if working on something similar - Alan
          3. Any USGS policies on transport of invasive species?
>Action Item:  Add links to FY14 and  FY15 completed courses to STED website

>Action Item:  Rod to contact Data Management website regarding DL course

>Action Item:  Rod will represent WMA on RFP Committee

>Action Item:  Ferrell will work with Billy Justice to develop concept for Invasive Species DL product; Alan to share ADCP Hydrotube DL proposal as an example; Joe to contact HDAC regarding their request to Invasive Species DL product.




  1. WMA Instructor of the Year Award - something we used to do; interest in continuing.
    1. Bring back
      1. Raises STED visibility - Needed
      2. Helps validate best practices
      3. Recognizes expertise in instruction
    2. How do we quantify it?
      1. Important to be inclusive of training at Centers, NTC, Conferences, etc.
      2. Model on Excellence in Leadership Award
      3. What counts as training?
    3. Could do different levels
      1. Local
      2. National
      3. Other
    4. AD Water sends out call for nominees?
    5. Looking for historical winners and/or standards used to evaluate
    6. Looking to award in FY2017; announce Jan. 2017.
  2. 2017/2018 WMA Training Needs Survey
    1. Use Survey Monkey
      1. Alan bring up active survey for demo
    2. Need to update lists of training for validation by Technical Offices. August 2016.
    3. Need list of Code 2/4 Supervisors--is there an email alias - No.  But can request this list, how we did this last time.
    4. Rod forward Werkheiser email to group so all can see format of survey - done
    5. Everyone review Survey Monkey format and dropdown boxes, take notes and make suggestions to clean-up/refine list
    6. Timeline
      1. Survey completion - Nov. 30, 2016
      2. Target date of Oct. 1, 2016
      3. Request for AD Water Memo sent by Sept. 15, 2016
      4. Validate active/inactive courses August 2016
      5. Format of Survey Monkey - July 2016
      6. Distance Learning as own category?
        1. Help identify future DL needs
      7. Ralph Roland (OED) will set up Survey - Joe
  3. Update on DOI University - NTC Co-location
    1. Early Fall co-location (Alan’s email April 20, 2016)
    2. Scheduling will be tighter
      1. Sample DOI-U schedule for first half of Fy2017 by Oct. 1
      2. Develop memo to WMA Instructors to strongly encourage planning courses further out than previously
    3. OED would like to put out an Annual Training Schedule but need dates ahead of time.
    4. STED-driven memo to Instructors/Technical Office of List of Center Capabilities
      1. Best way to approach WSC Directors on resources
      2. Capabilities questionnaire - bandwidth, equipment, etc
      3. Check on National Water Center availability -
      4. Kevin check with Marie Peppler on resources at National Water Center
      5. OED will be keeper of Center Capabilities information
        1. Do we need to validate accuracy for FY2016?
      6. Kevin will ask about Eco-Centers and Geo-Centers for capabilities. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tkkP_0LiKv6wo_7YojXPm-Q0ahq-zHGsrT73zNVYMgU/edit#gid=0
  4. Briefing with AD for Water (Don Cline)
    1. Will not be at Face-to-Face
    2. AD-Water Quarterly Briefings
      1. Send request
      2. Specific format (template we used)
      3. Next Quarterly Brief is in August 22, 2016
    3. Best approach for briefing AD-Water?
    4. Topics
      1. Training Needs Survey
      2. Center Capabilities to include National Water Center
      3. Other topics to discuss?
  5. Face-to-face Meeting
    1. June 28-29, 2016 at WAWSC, Tacoma Office
    2. Topics
      1. 2016/2017 WMA Training Needs Survey
      2. WMA Instructor/Course Manager Succession Plans
      3. WMA Instructor of the Year criteria and nomination procedures
      4. look at the STED website design/layout - ease of use
      5. A STED discussion item for our F2F in Tacoma will be annoucing all WMA course dates for the following FY by September each year. Part of the driver is the reduced scheduling capacity of the National Training Center due to collocation with DOI-U as well as advance planning serving to reduce course cancellations.
    3. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FywtOVcAnZLokQy1iqu-viZwrSmVTEOWJ8bXVr3SXyM/edit

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