CITI HSR Working Group CITI HSR Working Group Meeting Meeting

May 22, 2009May 22, 2009

Key West, FloridaKey West, Florida

CITI Software Modifications

CITI Software TeamCITI Software Team

• Mike Fallon DVM, Ph.D.Mike Fallon DVM, Ph.D.– Stephanie ManuelStephanie Manuel

• Programmer (50% T&E)Programmer (50% T&E)

– Chris Simmons – Chris Simmons – • Programmer and database specialist. (50% T&E)Programmer and database specialist. (50% T&E)

Programming Focus 2008-2009Programming Focus 2008-2009

• Completed ProjectsCompleted Projects– A more A more feature-rich enrollment question option feature-rich enrollment question option added that incorporates added that incorporates

branched logic.- can reduce number of enrollment Q’s seen by learners branched logic.- can reduce number of enrollment Q’s seen by learners and allows much more sophisticated course customization by learner.and allows much more sophisticated course customization by learner.

– Added Added standard “remote gateway” standard “remote gateway” mechanism to allow learners to come mechanism to allow learners to come into CITI directly from local networks- provides absolute personnel into CITI directly from local networks- provides absolute personnel records match with downloaded training datasetsrecords match with downloaded training datasets

– Completed conversion to more sophisticated Completed conversion to more sophisticated quiz question quiz question management-management- multiple subsets of quiz Q’s can be ordered, randomized multiple subsets of quiz Q’s can be ordered, randomized as needed. as needed.

– Restructured entire CITI website and database fields for compatibility Restructured entire CITI website and database fields for compatibility with int’l character sets (unicode),with int’l character sets (unicode), and cleaned up corrupted and cleaned up corrupted international course text. international course text. [99% complete][99% complete]

• Complete ProjectsComplete Projects– Flexibility of automated training Flexibility of automated training dataset dumps dataset dumps increased to add value to institutions.increased to add value to institutions.

[complete][complete]– More sophisticated More sophisticated institutional cloning tools institutional cloning tools added to reduce new institution setup time by added to reduce new institution setup time by

CITI staff CITI staff [complete][complete]

• Ongoing Projects Ongoing Projects – Transition from SQL 2000 to SQL 2005 database platform to increase site speed and Transition from SQL 2000 to SQL 2005 database platform to increase site speed and

reduce timeouts reduce timeouts June 2009 targetJune 2009 target– Improve database backup strategy to prevent more than 1 hour of lost CITI records in case Improve database backup strategy to prevent more than 1 hour of lost CITI records in case

of catastrophic server failures (note: redundant database servers already in place to of catastrophic server failures (note: redundant database servers already in place to reduce failure risk). reduce failure risk). June 2009 targetJune 2009 target

Programming Focus 2008-2009Programming Focus 2008-2009

• Ongoing Projects Ongoing Projects – Transfer CITI site to 2 new UM database and 4 new UM web servers to Transfer CITI site to 2 new UM database and 4 new UM web servers to

increase site speed, add capacity, and reduce/eliminate timeouts increase site speed, add capacity, and reduce/eliminate timeouts July July 20092009

– Add more flexibility in allowing CITI staff to give learners credit for work Add more flexibility in allowing CITI staff to give learners credit for work done at other institutions done at other institutions July 2009 targetJuly 2009 target

– Reduce complexity of grade book and learner group logic to speed up Reduce complexity of grade book and learner group logic to speed up learner login and reduce server load learner login and reduce server load July 2009 targetJuly 2009 target

– Incorporate better account security, including a security question and Incorporate better account security, including a security question and hashed (hidden) password storage for accounts hashed (hidden) password storage for accounts August 2009 targetAugust 2009 target

Programming Focus 2008-2009Programming Focus 2008-2009

• New Projects in ProgressNew Projects in Progress– Added new admin level (“superadmin”) to provide enhanced Added new admin level (“superadmin”) to provide enhanced

control of multiple international institutions by non-CITI staff . control of multiple international institutions by non-CITI staff . [first [first draft complete, tweaking under way] draft complete, tweaking under way]

– All web pages tweaked to reduce database calls and improve All web pages tweaked to reduce database calls and improve site speed site speed [initial work complete, additional work ongoing][initial work complete, additional work ongoing]

– Created account merge tool for combining multiple learner Created account merge tool for combining multiple learner accounts accounts [initial work complete, tweaks ongoing][initial work complete, tweaks ongoing]

Programming Focus 2008-2009Programming Focus 2008-2009

• Improve database backup strategy to prevent more than 1 hour of Improve database backup strategy to prevent more than 1 hour of lost CITI records in case of catastrophic server failures (note: lost CITI records in case of catastrophic server failures (note: redundant database servers already in place to reduce failure risk). redundant database servers already in place to reduce failure risk). June 2009 targetJune 2009 target

Programming Focus 2008-2009Programming Focus 2008-2009

• Begin coding for next version of CITI, Begin coding for next version of CITI, – Cold Fusion platform rather than active server pages, Cold Fusion platform rather than active server pages, – New featuresNew features

• More sophisticated translation/authoring tools for international authorsMore sophisticated translation/authoring tools for international authors• Better course image and text managementBetter course image and text management• Improved CITI developer tools for reviewing courses and quiz questions.Improved CITI developer tools for reviewing courses and quiz questions.• Enhanced site speed, increased concurrent learner capacity.Enhanced site speed, increased concurrent learner capacity.• Greater site customization opportunities for individual institutions.Greater site customization opportunities for individual institutions.• Enhanced institutional administrator learner management tools.Enhanced institutional administrator learner management tools.

– Many requested feature enhancements are being tracked by Marcos for incorporation into new version Start date October 2009; completion in 2010-2011

Programming Focus 2009 - 2010Programming Focus 2009 - 2010

Research SurveysResearch Surveys

““Mentoring Experiences”Mentoring Experiences”

And And

““Who Wants To Be a Human Subject”Who Wants To Be a Human Subject”

MENTORINGMENTORING

• ““Survey Says”Survey Says”– Mentoring is a well recognized benefit to tudent Mentoring is a well recognized benefit to tudent

and faculty.and faculty.– Although most “mentors” have had little formal Although most “mentors” have had little formal

training; they feel that they are doing a good job.training; they feel that they are doing a good job.– Most mentees indicate that their research Most mentees indicate that their research

advisors are also their mentors.advisors are also their mentors.– Large number of students report that their Large number of students report that their

institutions do not have mentoring programs. institutions do not have mentoring programs.

““So you want to be a human subject”So you want to be a human subject”

• Human subjects satisfaction survey.Human subjects satisfaction survey.• Currently awaiting “exempt” designation by UM IRB.Currently awaiting “exempt” designation by UM IRB.• Asking Survey responders about their willingness to Asking Survey responders about their willingness to

participate in clinical trials.participate in clinical trials.– What kind of clinical trial would you participate in and under What kind of clinical trial would you participate in and under

what circumstances.what circumstances.– Working hypothesis: Clinical investigators and IRB Working hypothesis: Clinical investigators and IRB

professionals will show high enthusiasm for participating in professionals will show high enthusiasm for participating in clinical trials.clinical trials.

– Parse the data according to role in research.Parse the data according to role in research.– >600 survey responses per day. >600 survey responses per day.

RCR Meeting SummaryRCR Meeting Summary• Very interesting presentations on the use of video Very interesting presentations on the use of video

from Jeff Englerfrom Jeff Engler

• Update on new course development.Update on new course development.– Jason Borenstein, Sharon Shriver, Ben FontesJason Borenstein, Sharon Shriver, Ben Fontes

• Discussed ways to have a closer working relationship Discussed ways to have a closer working relationship with the OpenSeminar program at NC State.with the OpenSeminar program at NC State.

• Short term changesShort term changes– Quiz questions, Quiz questions,

– Typos and errors in the content.Typos and errors in the content.

– Suggestion to hire an editor.Suggestion to hire an editor.

• Develop a module on PlagiarismDevelop a module on Plagiarism