Learn more about training workshops and services that we offer in our Research Computing group at the University of Colorado Boulder.

1. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
The Impacts of Outreach
Efforts by Research
Computing at the
University of Colorado
Boulder
Shelley L. Knuth
Sarah Papich, Peter Ruprecht, and Thomas Hauser
Research Computing
University of Colorado

2. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Project Motivation
• Provides computing services
beyond the desktop
• Are training and outreach
benefiting researchers?
• Infrastructure only as good as
how well users understand how
to utilize it
• Support researchers without
HPC background
• Were we doing a good job?
7/11/172

3. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Methodology
• Three-pronged approach
• Buy-in on existing services?
• New services?
• Ticket submissions
• Research on other HPC sites
• RMACC
• Focus Groups
• Evaluation of services
• Surveys, attendance, anecdotal information
• Study time period: January 2016-June 2017
7/11/173
“Itchy and Scratchy Focus Group”

4. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Evaluation Comments
• Survey responses
• Feedback limited
• Great ideas to implement
• Attendance
• Filling out registration
• Waitlists
• Anecdotal information
• Word of mouth
• Respondent comments
7/11/174

5. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Services Evaluated/Created
• New:
• Basics of Supercomputing
Bootcamp
• Student Cohort
• New User Seminar
• Existing:
• Meetups
• Hour long semester
seminar series
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
weekly
7/11/175

6. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
“Basics of Supercomputing
Bootcamp”
• Two days, twice
• January 2017, July 2016-17
• Teach beginner users effective
HPC use
• Computing architecture
• Linux
• Job submission
• Software builds
• Data transfer
• Parallel Computing
7/11/176
https://www.rc.colorado.edu/meetings/basicsofsupercomputing2017

7. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Evaluation – Basics Bootcamp
• Overall, well received
• Most survey respondents
said workshop led to
account creation or
increased usage
• Also very effective in learning
HPC skills
• Recommend:
• Small fee
• Limit to under 30
• July 2017
• Upcoming
• Less participants
• Saturated market?
7/11/177

8. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Student Cohort
• Additional consultation source
• Group of advanced undergraduates
• Respond to ticket inquiries
• More one-on-one assistance
• Limited resources
• Benefit to the students also
• Learning opportunity
7/11/178

9. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Evaluation - Cohort
• Supported ten users between August 2016 and May
2017
• Three responded to survey
• All three respondents praised the cohort’s helpfulness
and effectiveness
• Also, shown impact for the students
• Increased HPC knowledge
• Increased programming knowledge
• Exposed to different domains
• Working with people
7/11/179

10. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
New User Seminar
• Learn skills to utilize RC resources
• Based on ticket questions
and focus groups
• Account creation
• Allocation requests
• Logging in
• Storage
• Job submission
• Software installation
• Two hours, once per month
• Three since March 2017
7/11/1710

11. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Evaluation – New User Seminar
• March, May, and June 2017
• Approximately thirty people attended
• 97% of survey respondents rated the training as “good”
or “very good”
• Anecdotal comments on helpfulness of seminar
• Ticket responses on topics covered in the seminar
• 72% from February 2015-2017
• 66% from March 2017-June 15, 2017
7/11/1711

12. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Changes to Meetups
• Attendance at weekly meetups
dropped from 20+ people to 3-4
• 3% of members responded to
survey
• Web streaming capability
• More advanced topics
• Change in time (from lunch
time to 4 pm)
• Bi-weekly
• Reminders sent one hour prior
7/11/1712

13. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Evaluation - Meetup
• No attendance change in Fall 2016
• 20+ people in beginning of Spring 2017
• Coincided with introduction of Summit
• Dropped to 3-4 people after topics changed
• Suggested changes seemed to have no attendance
impact
• Lots of effort for RC employees
• Decided to forego for Fall 2017
7/11/1713

14. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Lessons and Future Work
• More feedback!
• More focus groups
• Survey early and often
• Give time in trainings for surveys
• Who is coming?
• What is everyone else doing?
• Online documentation overhaul
• Short courses
• Short how-to videos
7/11/1714

15. Research Computing @ CU Boulder
Questions?
Shelley.Knuth@colorado.edu
Basics Workshop in July 2017:
https://www.rc.colorado.edu/meetings/basicsofsupercom
puting2017
Research Computing at CU-Boulder:
https://www.rc.colorado.edu/
7/11/1715