====== Purpose of the Tutorial Series ======

The fundamental purpose of this tutorial series is to assist trainees in learning the practical steps involved in developing NetWeaver(tm) and GeoNetWeaver(tm) knowledge-based models and how to link data to these models for real world problem solving.
  
To achieve these purposes, we set out the following road map of learning exercises, directed toward natural resource management, which is an inherently imprecise and fuzzy undertaking. We will walk you through the steps of:
  * developing the Cohead Habitat knowledge base--designed to acquaint users with important NetWeaver functions
  * developing the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) knowledge base--designed to acquaint users with building models, using NetWeaver with a decidedly more qualitative element of social sciences emphasis 
  * linking databases to knowledge-based models
  * using the CBNRM model in a light-weight GIS: GeoNetWeaver--designed to demonstrate the process of linking spatial data to knowledge bases. 

====== Using the Help System ======
NetWeaver has a multi-tiered help system. Most objects and window controls have fly-over hints to assist you.  These hints are also displayed at the bottom of the main window in a hints field.

In this tutorial, we use an array of terms with which you may not be familiar, as well as a number of grammatical structures.  For example, we use the term "dependency network" to represent the logical relationships between data (e.g., gravel size, silt percentage) and conclusions (e.g., Cohead habitat quality). "Dependency network" and "Goal" are terms used interchangeably in this document and in NetWeaver and GeoNetWeaver.  Also, throughout this tutorial, we sometimes use node names (e.g., AND, OR) as verbs.  What we mean is that the node should be used in a dependency network to connect two or more objects (e.g., "One should AND the Spawning and Juvenile Rearing data links.").  These points will become clear to you soon after you begin to construct a knowledge base.

====== The Tutorial Series ======
  * [[The Cohead Salmon|Getting Started: The Cohead Salmon]] - developing the Cohead Habitat knowledge base -- designed to acquaint users with important NetWeaver functions
  * [[CBNRM|Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)]] - developing the CBNRM knowledge base -- designed to acquaint users with building models, using NetWeaver with a decidedly more qualitative element of social sciences emphasis
  * [[Linking Databases to Knowledge-based Models]] - connecting the CBNRM model to data sources
  * [[GeoNetWeaver]] - integrating the CBNRM model with GIS -- designed to demonstrate the process of spatial and non-spatial database development and linkage to knowledge bases

===== Companion Screencasts to the Tutorial Series =====
These are silent screencasts that mimic the tutorials mouse click for mouse click.

  * [[The Cohead Salmon Screencast 1|Getting Started: The Cohead Salmon - part 1]]
  * [[The Cohead Salmon Screencast 2|Getting Started: The Cohead Salmon - part 2]]
  * [[The Cohead Salmon Screencast 3|Getting Started: The Cohead Salmon - part 3]]
  * [[The Cohead Salmon Screencast 4|Getting Started: The Cohead Salmon - part 4]]
  * [[CBNRM Screencast|Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)]]
  * [[Linking Databases to Knowledge-based Models Screencast|Linking Databases to Knowledge-based Models]]
  * [[GeoNetWeaver Screencast|GeoNetWeaver]]