aci-ref.org

What We Do

What is a facilitator? Versus other Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (ACI)-related roles, a key component of facilitation is to assist researchers in leveraging ACI resources for themselves, rather than performing research tasks on ACI systems for or as a contributor to a specific research project.

While many facilitators spend their time on a variety of tasks that are essential to providing ACI resources to research communities, the activities of facilitation are best represented in the below items.

See the facilitation resources page for more facilitation resources, including the ACI-REF Leading Leading Practices of Facilitation.
See the ACI-REF blog for hands-on stories about the practice of facilitation.

RESEARCH SUPPORT	EDUCATION AND TRAINING
ACI-REF facilitators work closely with researchers to better understand their goals and practices, so they can better evaluate their technology needs and recommend appropriate solutions that allow them to take full advantage of the ACI resources available. A facilitator might identify potential knowledge gaps and help develop an overall plan for the implementation of ACI resources based on the researcher needs. Facilitators also work to ensure that the campus’ computing and networking infrastructure meets the growing needs of the research community for performance and functionality.	ACI-REF facilitator’s primary role in education is to identify and leverage existing learning resources for ACI topics and resources, to then develop novel materials for in-person learning and self-directed learning, including both education (knowledge/awareness) and training (skills/practice).
OUTREACH	COLLABORATIONS
ACI-REF facilitators continuously work on promoting awareness and understanding of the facilitator role and of ACI resources to potential users of ACI resources, including entities who exist within and external to each institution.	Facilitators identify and promote collaborations and opportunities for peer-learning between researchers. They also foster collaboration and the exchange of expertise between ACI resource staff, including intra- and inter-institutional connections.

RESEARCH SUPPORT

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

ACI-REF facilitators work closely with researchers to better understand their goals and practices, so they can better evaluate their technology needs and recommend appropriate solutions that allow them to take full advantage of the ACI resources available. A facilitator might identify potential knowledge gaps and help develop an overall plan for the implementation of ACI resources based on the researcher needs.

Facilitators also work to ensure that the campus’ computing and networking infrastructure meets the growing needs of the research community for performance and functionality.

ACI-REF facilitator’s primary role in education is to identify and leverage existing learning resources for ACI topics and resources, to then develop novel materials for in-person learning and self-directed learning, including both education (knowledge/awareness) and training (skills/practice).

OUTREACH

COLLABORATIONS

ACI-REF facilitators continuously work on promoting awareness and understanding of the facilitator role and of ACI resources to potential users of ACI resources, including entities who exist within and external to each institution.

Facilitators identify and promote collaborations and opportunities for peer-learning between researchers. They also foster collaboration and the exchange of expertise between ACI resource staff, including intra- and inter-institutional connections.