Metrics

This Metrics area is the place to post new content relating to metrics collection, analysis, trends, observations, etc. for the National Science Digital Library. 

Ongoing Reports: 

Monthly metrics snapshots for NSDL sites:

• nsdl.org  - NSDL's primary site for discovery of STEM digital resources
• NSDL Science Literacy Maps (strand maps) - Learning progression/concept maps browse tool
• nsdlnetwork.org - NSDL's news and information site for the network of NSDL projects and partners, established and developing 
• roll-up account of aggregated NSDL accounts

Notes:  NSDl undertook infrastructure transition in October and November 2011 that resulted in necessary downtimes and reduced usage. We also decommissioned certain services as unsustainable in the long-term, for UCAR:  Expert Voices blogging environment, NSDL Wiki, and OnRamp Content Management System. 

Roll-up Google Analytics reporting for NSDL projects

NSDL uses Google Analytics (GA) for web metrics reporting. All NSDL-funded projects may request a GA code snippet from NSDL to implement on their sites, which will enable aggregate usage metrics from their sites to be combined with those for NSDL sites—"roll-up" reporting across multiple sites. 

To request the code: please send an email to nsdlsupport@nsdl.ucar.edu, with subject line: "NSDL code snippet for GA".  (Identify the project and PI in your request). These requests come in via NSDL's Request Tracker system, and will help us keep track of overall requests.  

The more projects that implement the code, the better we are able to report on overall NSDL projects' usage and impact. 

Other Reports:

• Best Practices for Metrics Collection and Analysis; Report of the NSDL Metrics Working Group, (August 2, 2010).  (PDF)

The NSDL Metrics Working Group was convened in January 2009 to discuss and formulate recommendations to the NSDL community on best practices for use of metrics in project planning, implementation, and management. The group met from February 2009 through April 2010, and collaboratively authored the resulting report.

The report will also be published at this location in web page format so that community commentary, suggestions, and/or submission of additional metrics vignettes can be possible. 

Please provide comment on any aspect of the report by using the Got Metrics? forum, or by sending your comments to the NSDL support system via the Contact NSDL webform.  Thanks!

Forums 

Forums are discussion areas that can be created by any Community site member interested in generating discussion on particular topics. 

• Got Metrics? forum for discussion of metrics issues, best practices, suggestions, etc.  This forum was initiated in October 2009, prior to the 9th NSDL Annual Meeting, and one of its initial posts featured the Draft version of the NSDL Metrics Working Group report. It was updated with the finalized Metrics Working Group report: Best Practices for Metrics Collection and Analysis (August 2010). We are always interested in metrics-related questions/discussions, so please add any observations/issues/questions as time allows!
  
  

Groups

Groups are somewhat larger 'containers' for content, and have more flexibility - they can be open to all (publicly available), or can be restricted to just specific members (closed group), as in the case of a specific working group for a specific purpose, or related to a specific project, or a combination of access. Groups can contain wiki pages, forums, polls, and other features that can be customized to specific purposes. They typically contain a sidebar menu that details the content of the group site. 

• Metrics Interest Group - Group site for those interested in asking questions, providing answers, exploring solutions to metrics and evaluation problems