[Acoustics] TRAINING - Revised Hydroacoustics Training Schedule for FY2005

[Kevin Oberg]

District and Data Chiefs:

The purpose of this email is to announce the revised schedule for Office of 
Surface Water (OSW) hydroacoustics training for fiscal year 2005 and that 
all the remaining classes are open for enrollment.

Training Schedule for Hydroacoustics

The 2005 hydroacoustics training schedule is available at 
http://hydroacoustics.usgs.gov/training/schedule_2004.html .  All remaining 
classes for fiscal year 2005 are now open for enrollment.  Please use the 
above url and click on the appropriate link to enroll for a 
class.  Nomination status can be viewed by going to 
http://hydroacoustics.usgs.gov/training/Course_Status.html .

Please NOTE that entering an individual in the USGS NTC Training Management 
System DOES NOT nominate them for this class. You MUST follow the 
instructions below to nominate students for these classes. Likewise, 
nominating someone for this class using the instructions below DOES NOT 
enter them into the Training Management System.

Enrollment Policies

We have changed our policy for enrollment in these classes.  In the past, 
we have not allowed enrollment in classes until after the class was 
announced.  In response to feedback from District offices, we will now 
allow nominations through our enrollment process for all the classes 
offered in FY2005, effective immediately.  We hope that opening enrollment 
for all the classes that we intend to offer, will allow Districts to more 
effectively plan their training.  In order to nominate individuals for a 
class, please follow the links to the classes in the table shown at 
http://hydroacoustics.usgs.gov/training/schedule_2004.html and complete the 
Web-based enrollment process.

We will send out a reminder about each class that will include a deadline 
for enrollment.  If we do not have enough nominees in a given session, that 
session may be cancelled.  If we have too many nominees for a session, 
decisions on which nominees will be selected to attend will be based on 
when the nomination was made, need for the training, and other factors.

Future Changes/Developments

The OSW is working towards alternative methods for delivering 
training.  Our plan is to offer the Streamflow Measurements using ADCP's 
class in FY2006 consisting of 2 parts, (1) e-learning (online) modules that 
must be completed first, followed by (2) a 2-3 day on-site training 
session.   It is our intent to use this approach for this class in 2006, 
but much depends on how much progress we make in redesigning / reworking 
our course materials for the e-learning/online environment.  If you have 
ideas or comments or suggestions for improvement in the area of 
hydroacoustics training or support, please send email to Kevin Oberg 
(kaoberg at usgs.gov) or the Hydroacoustics Work Group (hawg at simon.er.usgs.gov).

Regards


Kevin



Kevin Oberg
USGS - Office of Surface Water
Voice:  217.344.0037 extension 3004
Cell:   217.840.9739
http://hydroacoustics.usgs.gov/