Copenhagen, Friday, 27 August 2010: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) 'Task Group on Electronic Learning' today released a survey to assess the current and future interest and capacity of GBIF nodes relating to training and electronic learning (eLearning).
Established in February this year, the GBIF 'Task Group on Electronic Learning' seeks to provide recommendations and guidelines to the GBIF Secretariat on the subject of eLearning as part of the implementation of the GBIF Virtual Classroom, as described in the 2009-2010 Work Program (Training, Goal 1, activity 2).
The survey will assess the present capacity and interests of GBIF nodes in these areas and was designed to ensure that the Task Group considers all the necessary information to make informed recommendations to the Secretariat.
“The role of nodes within the GBIF network is vital,” says Alberto González Talaván from the GBIF Secretariat, “it is essential that we ensure that our training activities are aligned with their expectations and needs.”
The results of this survey will be used to define future action for GBIF on training at the global level.
Participating in this survey is optional, although all Node managers are strongly encouraged to contribute and express their views and needs on these topics. It consists of 17 questions and should take around 30-60 minutes to complete. Questions are clustered around the following training and eLearning themes:
- Assessing current capacity and human resources of Nodes, the stakeholders they are engaged with, and how Nodes measure their impact;
- Assessing the interest of Nodes in eLearning, and capturing plans regarding these going forward; and
- Lastly, assessing the thematic scope of GBIF training at a global level, and source information on whether the current focus would still be the most appropriate and effective in future.
For your convenience, the survey is available in English, French and Spanish:
English - http://reporting.gbif.org/s?s=952
? French - http://reporting.gbif.org/s?s=952&lang=fr
?Spanish - http://reporting.gbif.org/s?s=952&lang=es
The deadline for completing the survey is scheduled for the 20th September 2010, whereafter the results of the survey will be analysed by the Task Group and made publically available in November 2010.
Questions are welcome at training(AT)gbif.org
