DRI Learning Resources

Compute Ontario provides funding to the DRI community for the development of open-access learning resources to support researchers in using DRI tools effectively. Self-guided training modules, reference materials, templates and tools are available on a range of topics from how to access and use national DRI systems to principles and tools for research data management to machine learning skills and methods.

ADVANCED RESEARCH COMPUTING, AI and ML

Introduction to advanced research computing using Digital Research Alliance of Canada resources, Carleton University

Instructional book in English, Covering:

  • Digital Research Alliance of Canada Resource Overview

  • Introduction to the Unix Shell

  • Parallel and Distributed Computing

  • General Purpose Computing Using a GP

Introduction to SciNet and Trillium, SciNet

Self-guided Moodle course in English for new Niagara/SciNet users

Introduction to GIT Version Control, SciNet

Self-guided Moodle course in English.

  • Includes a general introduction to version control

Introduction to AI and ML, with RDM integration, University of Ottawa

Eight structured, self-guided modules in French and English, each including a Jupyter Notebook, datasets and additional curated resources:

  • Data cleaning and linear regression

  • Decision trees and random forests

  • Naive Bayes

  • Support vector machines

  • K-nearest neighbours

  • Natural language processing

  • Transfer learning and introduction to convolutional neural networks

  • Dataset analysis, model shortlisting and model determination

Introduction to advanced research computing in fluid dynamics, University of Waterloo

A 16-hour online, asynchronous course in English to help learners with a basic understanding of fluid dynamics and CFD bridge the knowledge gap towards the effective utilization of CFD on modern ARC resources.

RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT

NEW! Introduction to Reproducible Neuroimaging Analysis, SickKids Research Institute and University of Toronto

Self-guided course in English:

Module 1: Introduces neuroanatomy and MRI techniques, open-access MRI data repositories, applicable open-source software, and high-performance computing environments for neuroscience.

Module 2: Guides the learner in using open-source software to analyze various types of MRI data locally and in high-performance computing environments. 

NEW! REDCap RDM Toolkit: From Project Planning to Data Repository, WE SPARK Health Institute

Five modules/20 units in English, guiding learners through the entire lifespan of a research project. Participants learn to translate ethics protocols into secure software environments, use branching logic to minimize data collection errors, automate workflows, and prepare de-identified datasets for deposit in national repositories.

COMING SOON! Data Curation and Deposit (Borealis), McMaster University, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Victoria and Borealis

Self-directed micro-credential:

These self-directed online modules cover the rationale behind data curation and teach practical skills to help you prepare for data deposit. By the end of the course, learners will understand what to consider when curating data and be able to prepare FAIR datasets for deposit in Borealis.

Good data handling practices for researchers, University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Self-guided courses, templates and other resources in English (some also in French) related to:

  • Ethics and harmonized consent language

  • Data management planning

  • Data handling

Research Data Management (RDM) knowledge, skills, tools and best practices, Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, McGill University, Pan-Canadian Genome Library

7 self-guided modules, available in French and English. Topics include methods to improve the discoverability, reusability, and machine actionability of research outputs, including data standards, ontologies, and schemas.

Research data management in the college and small institution context, Heads of Applied Research and the Ontario Colleges RDM Community of Practice

Six self-guided modules in French or English:

  • Data Management Planning in the College Context 

  • Data Deposit from a College Perspective

  • Data Curation

  • Data Sharing and Data Governance

  • Data Deposits and Repositories

  • Industry Data and Research Partnerships

Selecting the right data repository, Toronto Metropolitan University

Two learning resources in English:

Data-sharing best practices health care/medicine, University of Toronto and McMaster University

Three self-guided modules in English:

  • Big Data and Data Sharing: A Canadian Perspective on Risks, Benefits, and Principles

  • Big Data: Promise or Peril for Learners, Communities, and Privacy

  • Better Data > Big Data

RDM and text data mining in JupyterHub, University of Windsor

Supporting materials from a 2023 workshop series:

  • Introduction to Jupyterub (PowerPoint and code)

  • Text Data Mining of Newspapers in JupyterHub  (video)

  • RDM in Jupyter: The Importance of Keeping your Data Reproducible 

RESEARCH SOFTWARE

Stewarding research software from proposal to deposit and publication, McMaster University

A guide in English, covering:

  • Understanding FAIR principles

  • Developing a software management plan

  • Choosing technical/coding strategies to enhance reproducibility

  • Building a computing site using Minima

Applying technologies such as computational notebooks and open application programming interfaces to facilitate and support open research, McMaster University

A guide in English, covvering:

  • A primer on computational notebooks (CNs) for the new or novice user

  • How to use computational notebooks (CNs) to access the OpenAlex AP (a free database of scholarly works, authors, and institutions) and read/transform/export the data