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Vol. 56 (2) - April 2007 BulletinFeature articles | Interviews | News | Book reviews | Calendar www.wmo.int L 2007 I R P 56 (2) - A E VOLUM Blended learning etin BULL MO W World Meteorological Organization 7bis, avenue de la Paix - Case postale 2300 - CH 1211 Geneva 2 - Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 81 11 - Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 81 E-mail: [email protected] - Website: www.wmo.int ISSN 0042-9767 CD-ROM To serve the basic learning needs of all The CD-Rom contains (in pdf format): • WMO Bulletin 56 (2) – April 2007 • WMO at a glance (WMO-No. 990) requires more than re-commitment to • World Meteorological Day 2007 – Polar meteorology: understanding global impacts brochure (WMO-No. 1013) and poster basic education as it now exists. What • MeteoWorld – December 2006 and February 2007 • World Climate News No. 30 – January 2007 is needed is an “expanded vision” that surpasses present resource levels, institutional structures, curricula and conventional delivery systems, while building on the best current practices. (World Declaration on Education for All: Basic Learning Needs, Article 2, Jomtien, Thailand, 9 March 1990) Bulletin The journal of the World Meteorological Contents Organization Volume 56 (2) - April 2007 In this issue. 66 Message from the President . 68 Secretary-General M. Jarraud Deputy Secretary-General Hong Yan Interview with Bob Riddaway. 74 Assistant Secretary-General J. Lengoasa Some basics concerning e-learning by H. Nacken . 79 The WMO Bulletin is published quarterly Learning from e-learning: experiences with e-SIAC (January, April, July, October) in English, French, by T. Butcher and I. Dale . 84 Russian and Spanish editions. Advanced course in operational hydrology by A. Salcedo, M. P. Rivero, C. Fermin and J. Fernández . 90 Editor Hong Yan Associate Editor Judith C.C. Torres Cooperative arrangements for a degree in operational meteorology by A. Dania, M. Yerg, C. Depradine and R. Evers . 94 Editorial board Focus on satellite training: the global High Profile Training Event Hong Yan (Chair) by J. Wilson and J.F.W. Purdom J. Torres (Secretary) . 97 L. Barrie (atmospheric research and Flood modelling for management: UNESCO-IHE’s online environment) course in hydrology by R. K. Price, B. Bhattacharya, I. Popescu and A. Jonoski . 102 R. de Guzman (strategic planning) The COMET experience by T.C. Spangler. 107 I. Draghici (education and training) M. Golnaraghi (natural disasters) Flood forecaster’s certification through self-study by J.-M. Tanguy . 112 J. Hayes (basic systems) Meteorological distance learning in a large country by H. Fan and A. Henderson-Sellers (climate research) C. Miao . 119 D. Hinsman (satellites) G. Kortchev (applications) The future of Eumetcal; blended learning courses for continuous E. Manaenkova (policy, external relations) professional development by C. Sundius . 124 B. Nyenzi (climate) How about a spare-time university? by M.H. Glantz. 126 P. Taalas (capacity building and Advances in tropical cyclone motion prediction and development, regional affairs) A. Tyagi (water) recommendations for the future by R.L. Elsberry. 131 Improved development cooperation and regional services Subscription rates to Members. 135 Surface mail Air mail Fifty years ago . 139 1 year CHF 60 CHF 85 2 years CHF 110 CHF 150 Recently published. 141 3 years CHF 145 CHF 195 Obituary . 144 E-mail: [email protected] News from the WMO Secretariat . 147 Calendar . 152 Copyright © World Meteorological Organization, 2007 The World Meteorological Organization . 153 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from articles in the Bulletin may be reproduced without authoriza- News of WMO activities and recent events may be found in WMO’s newsletter tion provided that the complete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce MeteoWorld (http://www.wmo.int/meteoworld), in the NEWS section on the WMO or translate articles in part or in whole should be addressed homepage (http://www.wmo.int/news/news.html) and on the Web pages of WMO to the Editor. The designations employed in the WMO Bulletin and the programmes via the WMO homepage (http://www.wmo.int). presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of WMO Bulletin its frontiers or boundaries. Communication and Public Affairs Opinions expressed in articles or in advertisements appearing in the WMO Bulletin are the author’s or advertiser’s opinions World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and do not necessarily reflect those of WMO. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements 7bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: + 41 22 730 84 78 does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by Case postale No. 2300 Fax: + 41 22 730 80 24 WMO in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] In this issue Computer-aided distance learning to be expected in organizing and The articles by Abraham Salcedo et (CADL) is increasingly viewed as the following a distance-learning activity. al. and Arthur Dania et al. give two panacea for many challenges facing It was subsequently considered that it excellent—but differently organized— training providers. It is seen as a means would be useful to inform the larger examples of postgraduate blended to reduce costs, optimize resources, WMO community of their experiences learning courses in hydrology for Latin improve logistics and maximize the and objectives. Most of the authors American countries and in operational learning experience for participants. of the articles in this issue attended meteorology for the Caribbean region, But are these expectations confirmed that meeting. respectively. by actual experiences? What are the secrets of successful distance-learning An early conclusion of this meeting, Many people will already be familiar activities? What are the prerequisite which is highlighted by the cover with the High Profile Training Event requirements (e.g. equipment, page illustration, was that there is (HPTE), which offered students from software, developers’ knowledge, no common understanding nor inter- all WMO Regions lectures on the use skills and time) for the development nationally agreed terminology: terms of satellite data and products. Jeff of really useful training modules; used include computer-aided learn- Wilson and Jim Purdom were part of and how do you run effective online ing, distance learning, e-learning, a team that engaged more than 1 000 learning sessions? This edition of the online learning, web-based training, people in lectures delivered over the WMO Bulletin attempts to answer etc. We have therefore tried to respect Internet in October 2006. these questions. as much as possible the terms used by each author. Clearly, some degree of Rowland Price et al. point out that An address by the President of WMO, harmonization and stability in the uti- globalization has created new demands Alexander Bedritsky, as is traditional lization of various terms is needed, in for cross-boundary education. In in the issue of the Bulletin immediately order to facilitate international coop- response, UNESCO-IHE has adapted preceding a session of Congress, is eration in the production, exchange its educational process to e-learning followed by an interview with Bob and use of training resources. through an Internet-based platform. Riddaway. He describes the many An integral component of the changes in the approach to education Heribert Nacken’s article provides system is video-conferencing, which and training that he has experienced insight into the concept of provides interactive links in more than during his career at the Met Office. e-learning and the underlying theory 50 countries. The online course on These have been focused on improving of how humans learn. This is key flood modelling for management is the efficiency and accessibility of to developing effective teaching presented as a case-study. training, as well as the overall quality materials and methods that create of the learning experience. CADL is a rich and engaging educational Three articles share national an emerging technique which may experience. experiences where CADL has proved fulfil these aspirations. to be a cost-efficient and effective In an article describing the Statistics method of delivering training solutions In order to assess the status of in Applied Climatology (SIAC) to large numbers of personnel. COMET computer-aided distance learning in programme, Tom Butcher and Ian (Cooperative Program for Operational meteorology and hydrology, WMO Dale explain how the e-SIAC course Meteorology, Education and Training) organized, in September 2006, a can be used as a stand alone module is perhaps the best known exponent meeting of experts, who warmly or as a prerequisite to much more of e-learning techniques developed in debated the benefits and obstacles expensive face-to-face training. meteorology. Tim Spangler describes 66 | WMO Bulletin 56 (2) - April 2007 the evolution of COMET, which and empower the general public As part of the ongoing process at the originated from the need to train more and help to demystify global change Secretariat of ensuring the optimal than 7 000 weather forecasters in the science, and make it accessible and delivery of services to Members, the USA. Jean Michel Tanguy portrays the usable by the public. While, at first Regional and Technical Cooperation development of a training package glance, the article may appear rather Activities for Development Department to quickly qualify a considerable provocative, given the ever-increasing has been re-structured and renamed number of flood forecasters in pace of technological development, the Development Cooperation and France. He also touches on the issue its visionary ideas might become Regional Activities Department.