Adults learn best when they are actively engaged. Accordingly, this package relies on interactive teaching methods, using working exercises, case studies, and groupwork problem-solving, rather than on lecture format. Interactive techniques are more complex to organize than simple lecture-giving, but they give better results. In particular, interactive methods are more likely to provide students with practical skills. This is important where skill development rather than factual knowledge is the objective.
Lectures are better at providing factual knowledge than at developing skills.
For high level environmental management, both knowledge and skills are required, so the appropriate mixture of techniques should be used. The notes in this Part are based on the experiences of UNEP IE and WHO in organizing workshops and other training sessions. Personal advice on how to be an effective trainer is also given by several experienced trainers, who all use interactive training approaches. Notes on interactive workshop organization Workshops orkshops provide a stimulating learning environment where people with a wide range of experiences and skills can join together to address practical problems beyond the ability of an individual to resolve. Interactive workshops use a combination of several techniques to bring about a deeper and more pragmatic learning experience than is possible with a lecture-style format.