Educator: David Zeng

david.zeng@dsu.edu
Dakota State University
Timezone: Central U.S.

Associate Professor, Predictive Analytics for Decision-making, Programming for Data Analytics (Python), Business Intelligence & Visualization, Deep Learning
https://dsu.edu/directory/zeng-david.html

Availability:

Via sign up form:

Please describe your experience with supercomputing
I have never used a supercomputer

Are you familiar with the U.S. National Science Foundation's ACCESS program?
I don't use ACCESS but have heard of it

Via pre-survey:

How should we address you?
David

Please describe your experience using advanced research computing?
Limited experience of using advanced research computing, such as HPC, Linux, GPU environment

If you've used ACCESS, what allocation level did you start with?
Not applicable

What have you used or hope to use the ACCESS website to do?
Gain information about ACCESS resources such as training courses, HPC, grant opportunities etc.

Remind us what your role is, as it applies to working with ACCESS:
Educator

What is your research domain?
No answer

What courses do you teach?
No answer

What is advanced research computing is your resource particularly well suited for?
No answer

Who are your stakeholders?
No answer

What one thing do you appreciate most about the program?
Resource-sharing and training opportunities

What one thing would you change about the program?
Creating more local (such as small Midwest institutions) meetups and program

Interview guide:

60–90 minute interview. Each task will take approximately 5-10 minutes.

• Login, introductions, set up screen share, record to cloud, click transcript, at end of interview save transcript

We ask that you “talk aloud” as you are completing your task – telling us what you are thinking about and looking for as you complete your task. Begin here:

https://access-ci.org/

• Task 1: Where would you go to find out what type of research is being conducted using ACCESS? Is your institution’s area of research/study/classroom activity represented on the ACCESS website?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 2: Where can you find information specifically targeted for you (as an educator)?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 3: Are you eligible to use ACCESS? Where can you find eligibility requirements?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 4: Find information about the cost to use ACCESS.
  Interview notes here

• Could not find
  
  

• Task 5: What is an ACCESS resource? Where can you find the type of resources that are available through ACCESS? How would you select an ACCESS resource?
  Interview notes here

• Hard to compare - similar and too many to choose

• Filters GPU Compute - What kind of GPU ? (eventually found in Resource page)

• Would like to be able to compare

• Would base decision on having an easy to use User Interface and availability of Technical Support

• Task 6: What is an allocation? What types of allocation projects can you apply for? How do they differ from one another?
  Interview notes here

• Challenging to find the project types

• Task 7: Where would you go to find the definition of an unfamiliar term or phrase used in ACCESS?
  Interview notes here

• Documentation

• Thought to make Glossary more findable
  
  

• Task 8: Where can you go for help to use the ACCESS system? Where can you go to open a help ticket?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 9: If you want to get involved and volunteer with the ACCESS community where would you go?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 10: What’s the first step to get started using ACCESS?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 11: Where can you find information about citing ACCESS in your publications?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 12: Where do you go to find Systems Status?
  Interview notes here
  could not find - looked in resource catalog

• “System Status Notifications?”

• 
  More experienced user questions:
  
  

• Task 13: Do you know what the XDMod tool is used for and how to find it?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 14: Can you find what resources are running PyTorch?
  Interview notes here
  Curious about process if software is not installed - which RPS would install or let you install

• Can we link to software discovery

• Task 15: Can you find a resource that runs ACCESS On-Demand?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 16: Can you find an Affinity Group for FABRIC users?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 17: Where can you go for training to use ANVIL?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 18: Can you find how to get started with ACCESS MATCH services to help you with your research project?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Task 19: Please review this page and suggest any additions or deletions.
  https://access-ci.org/get-started/educators
  Interview notes here

• did not find landing page

• would like more case stories, videos showing examples
  
  

• Task 20: Do you understand that ACCESS resources can be used in the classroom as a training tool, not just for research projects?
  For an educator who has used ACCESS: What was your timeline to get an ACCESS resource ready for use in your classroom activities? Would you be willing to lead up an ACCESS educators affinity group?
  Interview notes here
  
  

• Wrap up, thank you, at end of interview save transcript