Using Moodle with relevance to NMHS’s

1. Using Moodle with relevance to NMHS’s Simon Gilbert, 4th EUMETCAL Workshop, 26th August 2008

2. Contents • Introduction • www.met-elearning.org • ‘Management by e-learning’ • Needs Analysis • Methodology • Feedback from students • Future developments • Moodle innovations • Document Management System • International Collaboration in Meteorological Training

3. Introduction

4. Simon Gilbert • VCP Project Manager for the Met Office • Part of International Relations team • Responsible for training development and delivery – mainly e-learning • Changing role to Deputy WMO Manager • Trainer at the Met Office College • Forecaster, mainly public weather service and TV

5. www.met-elearning.org

6. www.met-elearning.org • Administered jointly with WMO and the Statistical Services Centre (University of Reading) • Delivers a number of different types of training • Nearly 2000 registered users • Proven effectiveness in supporting face to face training events and delivering ‘pure’ e-learning • Free at the point of access – paid for by Met Office contribution to the WMO Voluntary Cooperation Programme

7. ‘Management by e-learning’

8. ‘Management by e-learning’ • Outcome of the WMO ‘Programme for the Least Developed Countries’ • Worked with WMO ETR and the Office for the LDC on course aims and objectives • Lack of training for middle-level managers in the Met Services of LDC’s • Need to gain access to development funding • Increase the effectiveness of management processes • http://www.met-elearning.org/moodle/course/view.php?id=25

9. ‘Management by e-learning’ • Topics covered • General management – effective meetings, leadership styles • NMS Specific issues – operating as part of the government infrastructure, national development plans • Project Management – proposing successful projects, communication, branding and marketing issues • Facilitators: • Yvette Ramos: Training consultant – WMO, ITU … • Chris Bowerman: Management trainer • Steve Palmer: Technical Cooperation Manager, Met Office

10. ‘Management by e-learning’ • Course delivery methodology • Download and read • Forums • Interactive lessons • Chats • Assignments • Project Proposal Contest with £1000 prize • Students • 45 students, 19 of whom completed all of the 7 assignments • 27 countries represented

11. ‘Management by e-learning’ Give an example of three things you have done differently in your Met Service as a result of this course • ‘There are several project proposals waiting for approval and implementation, with the help of this course two of these projects were revised and approved’ • ‘Used some of the skills while preparing a project proposal on strengthening early warning systems for climate change’ • ‘I have actively participated in the project design of my met. service and I am planning to write a proposal for the station network expansion’

12. ‘Management by e-learning’ • Future Developments • Delivered again September 2008 • Course may be ‘modularised’ in the future • Spanish version of the course in collaboration with AeMet

13. Innovative ways to use Moodle

14. Document Management System • WMO Meetings • Loads of documents, many changes • EC LX: 10 days in June 2008; Fifty documents issued; often 3 iterations before acceptance … • Previous EC: ‘Paper fest!’ • Commercial solutions investigated and ruled out on cost grounds • Moodle database module proved suitable • http://www.met-elearning.org/met_office/

15. International Collaboration • Universities across RAI are starting to introduce meteorology programmes • Desire from Universities in Europe and US to share expertise and materials • Moodle can be used to facilitate this exchange • Working initially in collaboration with KNUST (Ghana), University of Reading and University of Leeds (UK), University of Cologne (Germany)

16. Questions & answers