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University of Arkansas

Urgent eTraining Update

Sep 28, 2024

Some topical subject matter experts (SMEs) recently brought to the new GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO) and GLOBE Program Office’s (GPO) attention that there are factual errors in the web-based eTraining modules released to the community in 2023/2024. Initial assessment suggests that these errors can’t be easily fixed.

The new GIO team, GPO, and Data and Information System (DIS) team discussed a path forward and agreed that the current best option is to revert back to the prior PowerPoint-based eTraining modules for now, as these modules were developed by SMEs. GIO will engage SMEs and proceed with a full review of the PowerPoint-based and web-based eTraining modules, investigate a path forward, and inform the community.

To allow time for the community to complete the web-based eTraining modules and assessment tests people may have started but not yet finished, as well as for GIO and DIS to make minor modifications to the PowerPoint-based eTraining modules before reposting them, GLOBE reverted back to the PowerPoint-based eTraining on 27 September. If you were in the middle of a module before that date, you will need to restart the eTraining for that protocol. 

This upcoming change in eTraining does not impact existing user training status. For example, if you have been certified in Water Temperature by using the web-based module and passed the associated assessment test, you do not need to review the PowerPoint-based modules Using an Alcohol-Filled Thermometer or Using a Temperature Probe and pass their associated assessment test. 

Also, the web-based module on Introduction to eTraining will be replaced by Introduction to GLOBE once we revert back to PowerPoint-based eTraining. Those who have passed the assessment test for Introduction to eTraining will not need to again pass the assessment test for Introduction to GLOBE. 

Please note that the certification requirement for some Biosphere and Hydrosphere protocols will also revert back to those from the previous PowerPoint-based eTraining era. Specifically:

Biosphere—Biometry

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing Land Cover Classification assessment test plus passing assessment test for one of the following:

  • Biometry: Canopy Cover and Ground Cover
  • Biometry: Tree Circumference
  • Biometry: Graminoid Biomass
  • Biometry: Graminoid, Tree, and Shrub Height (Five Methods)

In comparison, web-based eTraining certification requirement:

Passing assessment test for one of the following (no Land Cover Classification required):

  • Biometry—Canopy and Ground Cover (Vegetation Covers)
  • Biometry—Graminoid Height and Biomass
  • Biometry—Tree Height and Circumference

Biosphere—Carbon Cycle

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing Carbon Cycle Introduction assessment test plus passing assessment test for one of the following:

  • Standard Site Carbon Cycle
  • Non-Standard Site Carbon Cycle

In comparison, web-based eTraining certification does not require Carbon Cycle Introduction.

Biosphere—Green-Up/Green-Down

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing assessment test for one of the following:

  • Green Up-Green Down: Grass Green-Up
  • Green Up-Green Down: Grass Green-Down
  • Green Up-Green Down: Tree and Shrub Green-Up
  • Green Up-Green Down: Tree and Shrub Green-Down

In comparison, web-based eTraining certification requirements:

Passing assessment test for one of the following:

  • Green-Up
  • Green-Down

There are no certification requirement changes for the other Biosphere protocols.

Hydrosphere—Water Temperature

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing assessment test for one of the following:

  • Using an Alcohol-Filled Thermometer
  • Using a Temperature Probe

In comparison, there is only one web-based eTraining module and assessment test for Water Temperature.

Hydrosphere—Water Transparency

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing the assessment test for Using a Secchi Disk and Using a Transparency Tube (two separate modules but only one assessment test).

In comparison, there is only one web-based eTraining module, and to be certified, one needs to pass only the Water Transparency assessment test.

Hydrosphere—Water pH

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing assessment test for one of the following:

  • Using pH Paper
  • Using pH Meter

In comparison, there is only one web-based eTraining module and assessment test for Water pH.

Hydrosphere—Dissolved Oxygen

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing assessment test for one of the following:

  • Using a Dissolved Oxygen Commercial Kit
  • Using a Dissolved Oxygen Probe

In comparison, there is only one web-based eTraining module and assessment test for Dissolved Oxygen.

Hydrosphere—Salinity

PowerPoint-era certification requirement (which will be reinstated on 28 September 2024):

Passing the assessment test for Using Titration Method and Using a Hydrometer (two separate modules but only one assessment test).

In comparison, there is only one web-based eTraining module, and to be certified, one needs to pass the Salinity assessment test.

There are no certification requirement changes for the other Hydrosphere protocols.

 

Thank you for your understanding. Please direct questions and comments about this change to training@nasaglobe.org.

News origin: GLOBE Implementation Office

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