Instructor-led Training Courses

AGROBASE Generation II regional training courses provide interaction with an instructor in a relaxed classroom-like setting. Courses are typically taught in a hotel meeting room, with all participants bringing their own laptop. An emphasis is placed on hands-on learning and course participants are given the opportunity to use their own data and files during the course. You do not even have to be a registered user of Generation II – we can provide a 30-day demo version license for you. All courses are conducted with the most current version of Generation II, and taught only in English. Our regional courses are currently offered annually in Germany (Duesseldorf), Australia (Adelaide), and the US (St. Louis). There have also been courses in some years in Canada (Saskatoon or Winnipeg), the UK (Gatwick), Uruguay (Montevideo), the Republic of South Africa (Bloemfontein, Bethlehem) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur). We also offer private training courses for seed companies, government organizations, and academic institutions – please see below.

Introductory/Advanced Courses

Our regional training course is five days, starting from introductory topics and moving on to more advanced topics. The sequence of topics is designed to accommodate trainees with limited or no prior knowledge of the software, as well as intermediate to advanced users.

Introduction: The First Two Days

If you are new to the software, and would like training right from the beginning, then you would take the first two days for the most basic introduction towards a foundational proficiency in using the software. You will learn many of the basic tasks, operations, features, and capabilities of the software that are required for more advanced proficiency. This introduction emphasizes the “agronomic system” and does not consider any of the modules. One very important topic is learning how to import your past data and experiments. By the end of the two days, you will have your own “research group” (relational database) in AGROBASE Generation II, typically with some of your own data.

Intermediate/Advanced: Days Three and Four

If you have a strong working knowledge of AGROBASE Generation II, or have completed the introductory first two days, then these next two days will give you a good proficiency in doing basic data analysis, as well as the varietal comparisons, image display, and pedigree data management modules. We will not assume any knowledge of statistics beyond the very basic. Day three focuses on data entry and analysis, and working with stored means. The fourth day concentrates entirely on the pedigree data management module (breeding system). If you are not interested in the plant breeding capabilities of the software, but only in data management and analysis for variety trials for example, then you would take the first three days in the course. If your goal is to cover all the modules and learn the entire system, then you would take the first four days.

Advanced: Days Four and Five

Day four focuses on the breeding system in depth, and an evening session expands on some of the topics in statistics and GxE analyses. The fifth day tackles a series of more advanced topics related to some of the modules, and assumes a solid working knowledge of the software. While many users may well be familiar with the breeding system, another day spent exploring more of the features and capabilities is typically worthwhile. Together, both days will cover more advanced reporting techniques, development of more complex logical expressions, optimizing your use of Generation II, comparisons of experimental designs and analyses offered in Generation II, in-depth understanding of GxE analyses, much more time on the pedigree data management system for specific crop breeding schemes – and more. Depending upon your proficiency in the software and your needs, you could take the last three days, thus moving from an intermediate to an advanced level of proficiency.

Which Days Should You Register For?

Beginners should take the first two days for sure, and then days 3 or 4 and maybe even day 5, depending upon their needs. More experienced “intermediate” users can come for day 2 to 3, 4, or 5, depending upon needs. Users with considerable experience would consider days 4 to 5, and maybe also day 3 as a refresher. For more information, see the five-day agenda. If you have any questions or need assistance in choosing the appropriate days of the course, please contact us.

Private Training

Private courses can be arranged on your site and customized to fit your specific needs. To accommodate organizations having similar needs, courses can be arranged in a central location where the cost of a course is shared. For more information, or to request a quote for an On-Site course, please contact us.

In response to the increased demand worldwide for AGROBASE and now AGROBASE Generation II, customized and standard, regional training courses have been held at private seed companies, universities, international agricultural research centers, and government organizations since 1990. Such courses have been held in North and South America, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific.

Upcoming Courses

Bangkok, Thailand
February 22-24, 2012

Adelaide, Australia
July 16-20, 2012