First Year in Focus at Canadian Colleges and Universities

First Year in Focus at Canadian Colleges and Universities

Paula Hurtubise<odesi> Project ManagerMacOdrum Library, 237

Carleton University

<odesi><odesi>

< Ontario Data Documentation, Extraction Service and Infrastructure

< centralised, standardised web-based data exploration/extraction system delivered through Scholars Portal

Research for the FYSResearch for the FYS

FYSFYS

<Lack the searching skills to find data

<Unable to use the tools or software that surround the data

<Lack the arithmetic/statistical skills to manipulate data

FYSFYS

<odesi><odesi>

< provides central storage, ease of access and simple data interpretation for key datasets

< brings significant number of datasets to the desktop of the scholar, the teacher and the student

< creates a level playing field within Ontario

Where it all beganWhere it all began

< spring of 2006, a DINO Discussion Paper on the variation in access to data resources across Ontario institutions

< the needs of the community < where they were in terms of providing

access to the expanding collections of electronic data

< their ability to address the increasing expectations from an ever more sophisticated community of users

FundingFunding

< <odesi> is a jointly funded project between the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) and OntarioBuys (BPS Supply Chain Secretariat, Ontario Ministry of Finance)

< $1.04M including “in kind” contributions of datasets and facilities

FundingFunding

< original 3 year project will now complete initial tasks in 2 years

< extension to geospatial data possible with second wave of funding for a Trusted Digital Archive

< provides university researchers, academics and students with easy access to a significant number of datasets in a web-based data extraction system delivered through Scholars Portal

Partners at workPartners at work

< Carleton University, the OCUL lead institution, is working in close partnership with the University of Guelph, OCUL and OntarioBuys

< Advisory Committee brings in other DDI projects in Canada and researchers and librarians

What’s there??What’s there??

< DLI, Statistics Canada files • Census • PUMF’s • Special Surveys, • General Social Surveys (GSS)• Health (CTUMS)

< Public Opinion Polls (e.g. Gallup)< Survey files from other sources

(academics)

<odesi>

Why Now???Why Now???

< builds on the success of Scholars Portal

< the development of an international metadata standard (DDI)

< the appearance of a number of suitable commercial extraction systems (Nesstar)

< the development of related DDI projects in Canada

< these together created a new potential for collaboration

Metadata is the keyMetadata is the key

< key feature of <odesi> is that it provides complete, standardised metadata in DDI

< metadata is critical because data are only accessible through their documentation

< <odesi> integrates with national and international initiatives to adopt and enhance common metadata standards (DDI) to develop and promote leading practices around these standards

Best PracticesBest Practices

< most significant happening in the <odesi> project is the development of a The <odesi> Best Practices Document for marking up Canadian data in DDI

< created by the <odesi> team of Michelle Edwards and Jane Fry, along with Jeff Moon and Alex Cooper

< posted on the <odesi> wiki

Build AwarenessBuild Awareness

< leverage the existing broad base of goodwill among library representatives to obtain the widest promotion possible

< to complement and support the work of data library staff and educators who create and maintain the important relationships with academics, researchers and students thereby increasing the success of <odesi>

< generating awareness of <odesi> through a series of conference presentations and articles in academic publications

Outcome is access at the Outcome is access at the desktopdesktop

< <odesi> provides central storage, ease of access and simple data interpretation for key data resources

< <odesi> brings data to the desktop of both the scholar and the student

An intuitive data portal for researchers, teachers and students; inspiring, developing and supporting research excellence.

Universities with Access to Universities with Access to <odesi><odesi>

Brock UniversityCarleton UniversityUniversity of GuelphLakehead UniversityLaurentian UniversityMcMaster UniversityNipissing UniversityOntario College of Art and DesignUniversity of Ontario Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Ottawa

Queen's UniversityRoyal Military CollegeRyerson UniversityUniversity of TorontoTrent UniversityUniversity of WaterlooUniversity of Western OntarioWilfrid Laurier UniversityUniversity of WindsorYork University

• Researchers can search across all surveys in a collection.

• Researchers have the ability to explore surveys in more detail (e.g. looking at questions by gender, province, age group, income, etc.).

• Tables can be saved in Excel or Adobe format.

• Researchers can download data for use in more powerful statistical packages (SPSS, SAS, etc.)

• Provide a more level ‘data’ playing field for Ontario Universities.

• Provide students and researchers with access to a substantial and growing body of survey and polling data, both current and historical.

• Provide an easy, yet powerful, search and exploration tool (Nesstar) that will serve both beginners and ‘power users’.

• Encourage cooperation and sharing of data and metadata in Ontario.

• Serve as a potential model for other jurisdictions.

ContactContact

An intuitive data portal for researchers, teachers and students; inspiring,

developing and supporting research excellence.

For more information contact Paula Hurtubise, <odesi> Project Manager @

paula_hurtubise@carleton.ca or visit www.odesi.ca