Science Metadata Training Presentations (Oceans '08)
The modules for the tutorial are as follows:
Introduction to Metadata
In this module, we will help scientists (and their teams) learn to use metadata to document their data sets. We will use typical oceanographic data sets to demonstrate this process. We encourage all scientists and data technicians who want to understand basic metadata principles to attend this training.
Introduction to Controlled Vocabularies, Taxonomies and Ontologies
In this module, we will introduce scientists to approaches that help reduce semantic interoperability problems between different data systems. Controlled vocabularies, taxonomies, and ontologies are three different mechanisms that can help scientists find the data that they need – with minimal confusion about what different terms mean.
Submitting Metadata to a Clearinghouse
In this module, we will help scientists submit (or publish) their metadata to the major metadata clearinghouses (NSDI/FGDC, Geospatial Onestop, NBII, OBIS, and GCMD) by providing an overview of each. (We may also provide a table that can be used as a reference later - hardcopy or online.) In the overview of each clearinghouse we will address: a. requirements for use (metadata standards, any required metadata elements, connections...), and b. tools/resources for help publishing to a clearinghouse. We may also present evaluation criteria that we think would be helpful for participants to use when determining which clearinghouse to use. In addition to the overview, we will also use typical oceanographic data sets to demonstrate the submittal process to the Geospatial Onestop.
Best practices for submitting to a clearinghouse may be identified during preparation of the Overview and may be provided to participants in this and/or the best practices module.
Metadata Best Practices
In this module, we will present a high-level overview of contemporary practices and standards in metadata. This loosely structured, flexible module will allow ample opportunity for attendees to ask questions about metadata issues facing them and their organizations.