The NSDL Collaboration Finder: Connecting Projects for Effective and Efficient NSDL Development

SMETE.ORG agrees to work with MERLOT to meet the objectives outlined in the proposal "The NSDL Collaboration Finder: Connecting Projects for Effective and Efficient NSDL Development." NSDL means National Science Digital Library.
SMETE.ORG is uniquely positioned to participate in the work proposed here. Through the experiences gained in developing the Vision Support Planning Database, the prototype for the proposed NSDL Collaboration Finder, coupled with its experience with the SMETE Open Federation, smete.org has a unique insight into the nature of collaboration and management of distributed projects critical to making this project and the NSDL a success. In addition smete.org has a strong track record of developing and maintaining services that meet the needs of end users. In support of the vision outlined in this NSDL Services track proposal, smete.org agrees to work with MERLOT to:
> Participate in the needs assessment and use case scenario development.
> Co-develop the requirements definition document.
> Co-develop the NSDL Collaboration Finder tool.
> Field test and populate the NSDL Collaboration Finder with the SMETE Open Federation.
> Work with the NSDL Collaboration Bureau to field test and populate the NSDL Collaboration Finder with NSDL Collections, Services and Targeted Research Track projects.
The SMETE (Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education) Open Federation represents the largest identifiable user base for the National STEM Education Digital Library with an easily accessible audience of over 9.25 million users and almost 250,000 directly accessible community members. Headquartered at SMETE.ORG on the UC Berkeley campus, the SMETE Open Federation's nationwide partners have developed a solid and comprehensive program in the area of educational digital libraries for K-12 and higher education (for a full listing of partners see www.smete.org/about_smete/partners.php).
Through rapid implementation of technologies for federated functionality through its main portal at www.smete.org, the SMETE Open Federation has achieved a level of integration of collections among partners that has enabled the evaluation of their impact on the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Since the mid-1990's, SMETE Open Federation participants have collectively cataloged over 42,000 high-quality, web-accessible digital learning resources for STEM education. These resources include those designed for higher education (65%) and K-12 (35%). The resources run the full gamut of STEM subject areas, including all aspects of engineering and computer sciences, the life sciences, the physical sciences and mathematics. In addition approximately 29% of the collections include non-STEM subject areas such as the humanities and social sciences. There are 18,000 additional cataloged physical resources associated with STEM education (e.g., video tapes, workbooks, lesson plans, etc.) and approximately 925,000 discussion threads and other resources. By leveraging the work of the partners, who maintain high standards in their collections development policies, the SMETE Open Federation has assembled a strong base of high-quality, educationally relevant resources and dedicated community for the STEM Education at all levels.