Future courses

Since 2002, CHNEP has offered courses that help its partners fulfill the program's plan to protect the environment. We'd like to have your input on the courses that you would find most valuable. Please complete a quick 8 question survey by February 27.

Before you take this online survey, you may want to refresh your memory by reviewing the rest of this page. The courses that have already been offered are listed as well as descriptions of courses the NOAA Coastal Services Center offers. (Brief descriptions are also included in the survey.) Thank you.

Survey. The survey is now closed.

Public Information and Education Professional Development Programs offered to date:

The NOAA Coastal Services Center provides training to the coastal resource managers of the nation. For more information about the center, visit their website at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/index.html.

Building Process Skills

Negotiating for Coastal Resources

This one-and-a-half-day interactive course provides participants with practical skills and information on all facets of negotiation. The course curriculum includes the roles and applications of advocacy, negotiation, facilitation, education, and outreach and teaches negotiating skills and strategies using coastal management and land use case studies. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Discuss the use of collaborative negotiation strategies to strengthen interagency relationships

· Demonstrate techniques to overcome barriers to negotiation

· Assess personal negotiation styles

· Show how to plan and prepare for negotiations

· Evaluate process outcomes, implementation, and next steps following negotiations

Project Design and Evaluation

This two-day course provides the knowledge, skills, and tools to design and implement projects that have measurable impacts on a targeted audience. The interactive curriculum is designed to increase the effectiveness of projects by applying valid instructional design theory to their design. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Describe the context of project design and evaluation within the scope of agency and organization missions, strategic plans, and established program niches

· Apply appropriate instructional design theory and practices to project development

· Explain the role of logic models in project design and evaluation and create logic models for their projects

· Use performance measurement as part of project evaluation

· Describe three types and four levels of evaluation that can be applied to extension and education projects

Public Issues and Conflict Management

This thee-day course is designed to increase the participant's ability to design, conduct, and control meetings in public forums. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Use collaborative processes in resolving coastal and marine-related issues in a public forum

· Use meeting management skills, knowledge, and competencies to plan for and conduct effective meetings in a public forum

· Deal effectively with the media in the public issues management process

Coming Soon:

Planning for Meaningful Evaluation

This two-day course addresses the increasing demand for program accountability. Using their own logic models, participants will create a comprehensive evaluation plan. The course is not intended to train participants to be professional evaluators, but to provide an understanding of all elements of evaluation so they are able to create sound evaluation plans. After completing this course, participants will be able to

  • Create a program theory model

  • Create strong causal linkages between components and to the larger body of research that informs the field in which the program or project operates

  • Identify the appropriate point for evaluation to occur and determine evaluation priorities

  • Use their individual program theories and evaluation priorities to revise or create useful performance measures

  • Select appropriate data analysis options and management methods

  • Select relevant findings and effectively communicate the results of their evaluations to intended audiences

Prerequisite: Project Design and Evaluation (or other logic model development training or experience). Participants will be required to bring a logic model of the program or project they intend to evaluate and related performance measures, if such measures exist.

Coastal Management Training

Coastal Community Planning & Development Training

Many coastal resource managers involved in planning and development have a general idea of what better coastal growth decision making entails, but they desire a deeper understanding to implement the principles associated with alternative coastal development. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and state coastal resource management agencies have developed an introductory, two-day course that will actively engage participants in learning about alternatives to how and where growth will occur in their communities. It will provide them with the background, examples, and strategies to support alternative development efforts in coastal communities. The two-day course will help participants:

· Understand current coastal development patterns and trends;

· Understand the primary drivers (e.g., codes, regulations) that influence growth and development patterns;

· Understand the social, environmental, and economic impacts and benefits of various development patterns;

· Understand the principles of integrated and comprehensive growth strategies;

· Assess the current state of growth and development in their communities;

· Increase their ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders on this topic; and

· Understand the purpose and process of creating a collective vision for how and where coastal communities grow.

This course is designed for those who would like to participate or are currently participating in planning and development activities in their communities and who need a basic knowledge of planning processes, as well as alternatives to conventional patterns of growth and development. This course is designed for those in the initial stages of planning alternative growth options for their communities. Participants may include elected officials, developers, business leaders, coastal resource managers, and other local decision makers.

Managing Visitor Use in Coastal and Marine Protected Areas

This two-day course provides participants with tools to identify and define unacceptable visitor use impacts to natural resources and visitor experiences. The training focuses on a step-by-step process that can be used to help determine these impacts and explore a range of strategies and tactics that can be implemented to address them.

After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Understand the human dimensions of coastal and marine management

· Apply recreation and visitor use management planning frameworks

· Identify visitor use issues, including visitor-resource and visitor-visitor impacts

· Craft a clear problem statement

· Develop measurable indicators for monitoring impacts and management and set standards for impact acceptability

· Implement visitor use monitoring methods and management strategies and tactics

GeoSpatial Technology Course

Coastal Applications Using ArcGIS

This two-day course provides students with opportunities to address a variety of coastal issues using ArcView 9.2 technology. The course format includes lecture, demonstrations, small group discussions, and hands-on problem-solving exercises. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Build and synthesize their technical skills with ArcCatalog(r), ArcMap(r) and ArcToolbox(r)

· Familiarize themselves with basic GIS topics such as metadata, map scale issues, and data formats

· Apply this technology to real-world coastal issues such as population growth, sensitive habitats, and marine protected areas

Prerequisites:

· Introduction to ArcGIS. For those who have not completed the ESRI course within the past year, it is strongly recommended that they familiarize themselves with the concepts, as the material presented in this course is both comprehensive and fast-paced.

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

GIS for Managers

This four-hour course provides coastal resource managers with an opportunity to understand the basics of geographic information systems (GIS) through hands-on computer training. This training focuses on specific coastal-related problems and how a GIS might be used to solve them. Familiar scenarios and common data sets are used to illustrate the potential of GIS to assist in the workplace. After completing this course, participants will be able to:

· Define a GIS

· Describe the key capabilities and power of a GIS

· Know certain GIS terms and concepts

· Recognize certain limitations of a GIS

Prerequisites

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

Assessing GIS for Your Organization

This workshop, which can be offered as a 90-minute short course or a four-hour long course, provides the non-technologist an overview of how a geographic information system (GIS) can be useful to their organization. The course format includes an overview presentation and small group discussions and activities. It allows participants an excellent opportunity to ask questions related to GIS and spatial technologies. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Understand the five fundamental components of a GIS: software, hardware, data, people, and applied uses

Prerequisites

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

Introduction to ArcGIS I

This two-day Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)-certified training course covers the basics of ArcGIS software. Find out more about this course on ESRI's Internet site. After completing this course, participants will be able to

* Create, edit, and work with georeferenced spatial data

* Manipulate tabular data

* Query a GIS database

* Produce maps, reports, and graphs

Prerequisites

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

Remote Sensing for Spatial Analysts

This two-day course offers spatial analysts an opportunity to understand the basics of remote sensing techniques by providing them with hands-on computer training. Participants will use remote sensing, in combination with spatial data, to investigate issues such as land cover and use, shoreline erosion, and fisheries and benthic habitat assessment. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Understand how remotely sensed data can be used in coastal resource management

· Identify benefits and limitations of remote sensing

· Use remote sensing data in a geographic information system (GIS) environment

Prerequisites

· Mastery of basic GIS skills

· Familiarity with ArcGIS

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

GIS Tools for Strategic Conservation Planning

This four-day course, co-instructed by staff from the NOAA Coastal Services Center and The Conservation Fund, teaches students how to apply geographic information system (GIS) tools, methodologies, and analyses to strategic conservation planning using a "green infrastructure" approach. Students will use data sets from coastal areas to develop conservation priorities and strategies to address a realistic conservation scenario. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Describe primary concepts and benefits of a green infrastructure approach

· Define the parameters of a green infrastructure network and identify appropriate core data elements needed

· Choose and employ raster-based spatial analyses to design a coastal green infrastructure network using ArcGIS

Prerequisites

· Experience with or training in ArcView 9.x

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

Conservation Data Documentation

This three-hour hands-on workshop gives conservation practitioners the information and tools they need to document their spatial data in the geographic information system (GIS) environment. Emphasis will be placed on how ArcGIS can be used as a metadata authoring tool. To receive maximum benefit from the class, students should bring two of their own data sets (and any notes they have about its creation or modifications) to work with during class. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Apply templates developed in class to document conservation data for other projects

Prerequisites

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

Coastal Inundation Mapping

This two-day course, targeted at certified floodplain managers, National Weather Service personnel, and county, state, and municipal officials, teaches participants about coastal inundation issues and spatial techniques for mapping inundation. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Understand inundation terminology and datum issues

· Access topographic data

· Create a digital elevation model

· Understand coastal and ocean observation data and their applications

· Conduct a risk and vulnerability assessment

Prerequisites

· Basic GIS skills (minimum six months to one year)

· Status as a coastal resource management professional from a Center partner agency (nonprofit, or local, state, or federal government)

The NOAA Coastal Services Center provides training to the coastal resource managers of the nation. online courses include:

Building Process Skills

Conducting Needs Assessments

This online course introduces coastal management professionals to needs assessments and what it means to conduct one. By assessing target audience needs, coastal programs can determine a focus and direction and make more informed decisions about program or project objectives. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Understand where needs assessments fit in the project development process

· Describe the basic steps in conducting needs assessments

· Develop assessment instruments such as surveys and questionnaires

Coastal Management Training

Public Trust Doctrine online Course

Module 1: The Public Trust Doctrine-What Is It? Module 2: A Dynamic Doctrine Module 3: Geographic Scope of the Doctrine Module 4: Determining Public Trust Module 5: The Trust Responsibilities of States Module 6: Administering the Trust Module 7: Riparian Rights and Takings Module 8: Concurrent State and Federal Authority Over Public Trust Lands and Waters Module 9: Advocating the Trust

Survival Skills for Coastal Resource Managers online Course

This online course is designed for coastal resource management professionals who know the resources, but struggle with the people part of the equation. It provides practical information about the coastal management framework, collaborative processes, and information management. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Explain the different roles and responsibilities of coastal resource management individuals, organizations, and legislation

· Design, manage, or participate in productive stakeholder meetings

· Find, utilize, manage, and disseminate information and data from a variety of sources

Web Content Design and Evaluation online Course

This online course focuses on how to plan, organize, and evaluate your website to ensure you are meeting your communication objectives. After completing this course, participants will be able to

· Understand how users read web content and use the Internet

· Understand what level and detail of information can be effectively conveyed

· Understand the basics of linking strategies, search engine positioning, and online marketing

· List and differentiate the goals, objectives, and audience of their website

· Identify website effectiveness criteria and develop ways to measure its success

· Analyze and use in-house information requests as drivers for Web site content additions

· Learn ways to survey customers through online quizzes, polls, and feedback results

CanVis Visualizations for Coastal Managers

A hands-on introduction to CanVis for Coastal Managers. The workshop includes a basic introduction to visualization concepts and options, hands-on exercises, and a discussion of potential applications. Two to three hours (depending on participant needs). Workshops are provided at the NOAA Coastal Services Center (Charleston, S.C.), virtually (through WebEx), and as a component of the Coastal Community Planning and Development Course.

· January 21, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· February 18, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· March 18, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· April 15, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· May 20, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· June 17, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· July 15, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· August 19, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

· September 16, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)