Open-source Tools for Training Resources -- OTTR

TL;DR

OTTR is an open-source toolkit that simplifies the creation, customization, and maintenance of online training courses in data science, enabling multi-platform publishing and integrated assessments without local software installation.

Contribution

This work introduces OTTR, a flexible, open-source system that streamlines course creation and maintenance across multiple online platforms with integrated pedagogical features.

Findings

15 courses created using OTTR

Maintenance workload significantly reduced

Supports multi-platform publishing and assessments

Abstract

Data science and informatics tools are developing at a blistering rate, but their users often lack the educational background or resources to efficiently apply the methods to their research. Training resources often deprecate because their maintenance is not prioritized by funding, giving teams little time to devote to such endeavors. Our group has developed Open-source Tools for Training Resources (OTTR) to offer greater efficiency and flexibility for creating and maintaining online course content. OTTR empowers creators to customize their work and allows for a simple workflow to publish using multiple platforms. OTTR allows content creators to publish material to multiple massive online learner communities using familiar rendering mechanics. OTTR allows the incorporation of pedagogical practices like formative and summative assessments in the form of multiple choice questions and fill in the blank problems that are automatically graded. No local installation of any software is required to begin creating content with OTTR. Thus far, 15 courses have been created with OTTR repository template. By using the OTTR system, the maintenance workload for updating these courses across platforms has been drastically reduced.