may opt to exclude if not discussing XML and machine readable – metadata Key points for Discussion Questions: Examine the metadata file for the NEON data file. Briefly discuss with your partner how this file could have helped you interpret the data sheet and create your own data file or perform data analysis. Be prepared to share your observations with the class. The XML metadata file provides information that might be important for interpreting the results such as geographic location or elevation. It also provides information about who produced the data, how the data can be used, and how the data should be cited when used. This file is in a machine readable format that can be used with a scripted analysis. Also provided are the readme and variables files. These metadata files also provide some or all of the above information but are more human readable (but not machine readable). The Abbreviated NEON Small Mammal Trapping Protocols could also be considered a metadata file as it provides more information on how the data were collected. Now that you better understand the kinds of data collected in the NEON data file, think about what types of questions could be answered using this data. Discuss with your partner and draft 2-3 questions that could be asked with this data. Lots of options. If students get stuck could suggest anything to do with: sex ratio, age structure, life history, population size, trends in populations size, small mammal community structure. If they add data to the small mammal data, then even more options. Comments on Public Data & NEON: This version of the activity is built around a pre-downloaded data set from NEON’s SCBI site, but if time and experience permits, students (or instructors) could download separate data sets directly from the NEON data portal from sites that are closer to their location. Accessing this information does require a good internet connection and not all field sites have all of their data available yet. Faculty interested in doing this should download data sets before class to make sure they are amenable to the analysis portion of the activity.
– may opt to exclude if not discussing XML and machine readable metadata Key points for Discussion Questions: Examine the metadata file for the NEON data file. Briefly discuss with your partner how this file could have helped you interpret the data sheet and create your own data file or perform data analysis. Be prepared to share your observations with the class. The XML metadata file provides information that might be important for interpreting the results such as geographic location or elevation. It also provides information about who produced the data, how the data can be used, and how the data should be cited when used. This file is in a machine readable format that can be used with a scripted analysis. Also provided are the readme and variables files. These metadata files also provide some or all of the above information but are more human readable (but not machine readable). The Abbreviated NEON Small Mammal Trapping Protocols could also be considered a metadata file as it provides more information on how the data were collected. Now that you better understand the kinds of data collected in the NEON data file, think about what types of questions could be answered using this data. Discuss with your partner and draft 2-3 questions that could be asked with this data. Lots of options. If students get stuck could suggest anything to do with: sex ratio, age structure, life history, population size, trends in populations size, small mammal community structure. If they add data to the small mammal data, then even more options. Comments on Public Data & NEON: This version of the activity is built around a pre-downloaded data set from NEON’s SCBI site, but if time and experience permits, students (or instructors) could download separate data sets directly from the NEON data portal from sites that are closer to their location. Accessing this information does require a good internet connection and not all field sites have all of their data available yet. Faculty interested in doing this should download data sets before class to make sure they are amenable to the analysis portion of the activity.