Aquaculture Technology Centre

Information Technology (IT)

Background
The course is targeted at managers within the aquaculture industry who need to take decisions about the selection and implementation of new management information systems, or who need assistance in developing their own solutions for data analysis and information sharing. As there are already a great number of generic training courses in IT and the use of the Internet for instance, the emphasis is very much on specific experiences and solutions for the aquaculture industry. Involved managers are expected to have basic IT skills and busy jobs, so the course will be run entirely on-line. The various tools used for distance learning will also provide participants with hands-on experience in using network-based communications for collaboration and information presentation. The course will be based on a nominal 32 hours of study material and exercises, structured to run over an eight-week period.

Course content
The main sections of the course will be:

Management Information Systems – A brief introduction to MIS theory, concepts of monitoring and control and systems analysis as background for the appraisal of specific tools and approaches
Farm management systems – A critical examination and sharing of experiences of existing commercial software solutions for the management of aquaculture operations and a look at the options for bespoke or in-house solutions
Internet and Intranet – An assessment of the impact Internet technology is having on Information gathering and communication within the aquaculture community and how emerging tools and services might benefit aquaculture companies
Automation and control – Increasingly sophisticated computerized equipment is being used in aquaculture for monitoring and control functions. A review of how and when this should be implemented and how it can be integrated with other MIS systems and functions.
Information analysis – An introduction to more advanced tools for extracting useful information from collected data (data mining, modeling, query tools, multidimensional analysis etc.) and spreadsheet techniques and equations useful in building aquaculture models
Computer systems management – A review of some important issues in ensuring computer and data accessibility and security, including client-server systems, backup management, virus protection, Internet connections and the use of firewalls etc.

Course delivery
The course will be run entirely on-line over an 8-week period. The course will mainly be facilitated through an Internet WebCT forum, which provides conference and real-time chat facilities, shared calendar, access to files and presentations, self-assessment tests etc. Participants will also be supplied with core materials on CD-ROM to minimize the time needed to download these for participants using modem Internet connections. The system also allows participants to collaborate in groups and make their own web-based presentations to the rest of the course. Smaller tutorials might be run using Microsoft Net Meeting software and web-cam video depending on availability among participants. At least six tutors will be involved, including academics, information technology specialists and solution providers. On-line discussions will be arranged with selected suppliers of aquaculture IT solutions and participants will be expected to share some of their own experiences