Authors: Courtney Di Vittorio, Cat Maiorca, David Tarboton, Emad Habib, Meliss Gallagher, Megan Burton
Title: HydroLearn: Collaborative Module Development for CIROH Educational Outreach
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Abstract: HydroLearn is meeting CIROH’s education, training, and outreach needs by developing high-quality, accessible learning modules focused on the NextGen modeling framework. This project addresses a persistent gap between university coursework and the skills required by government and industry by aligning module topics with CIROH research themes and operational priorities. The most recent HydroLearn initiative leverages partnerships with CIROH research leads to pre-scope module topics connected to funded projects. Development begins with an in-person workshop at the 2026 Developers Conference, followed by an 8-day virtual hackathon where fellows, consisting of faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students, work in pairs to design and complete modules. Each team is supported by subject-matter and education experts, and modules are developed using evidence-based design principles, including authentic tasks and high cognitive demand. This approach expands the CIROH network, strengthens research-to-operations connections, and builds faculty and professional capacity to translate research into practice. We will introduce the new modules under development and share plans to further engage the CIROH community in the coming year.