They are also provided continual contact with field personnel and opportunities to learn about new procedures and programs. Most offerings in this classification are required for a particular program, job function, assigned duty, etc. The information gained through a seminar is just as vital and important as that gained through a course, however, they do not have tests and grades associated with them. They are similar to courses in that they include a lot of student activities and interaction. Most seminars are not required for a particular program, job function, assigned duty, etc., but they provide beneficial information to those who attend.
Workshops can be of two different types.
Some are like seminars in that they do not have tests and grades associated with them, but they differ somewhat in that they are designed to teach a particular skill and to practice that skill during the sessions. A good example is an offering wherein we train participants to use a new computer software program or to operate a piece of equipment. Other offerings are classified as workshops if they make significant use of the students' expertise. A workshop of this type is more free flowing than a course or a seminar, and it is designed to facilitate discussions and interactions among the participants. The key to effective classroom instruction is effective training development.