'Enlivening' Development Concepts through Workshops: a case study of appropriate technology and soil conservation

In comparison with the teaching of most other geography topics, where field work can be conducted relatively easily and seminars can be based on some p re-existing knowledge and first-hand experience of the issues, the range of resources and approaches available to tutors teaching the geography of dev elopment is necessarily more limited. Tutors often have to rely more heavil y on 'top-down' teaching and more passive learning approaches, such as usin g videos, slides and lectures. While students may gain a theoretical unders tanding of development concepts, issues and problems, they may be left with out a deeper 'experience' of such material. This paper describes a practica l workshop designed to communicate to students the idea of 'appropriate tec hnology'. The workshop enables students to actively 'experience' a developm ent concept rather than simply understand it in theory. It tests comprehens ion and understanding, through the application of a concept to real example s, stimulates discussion and debate, and draws upon problem-solving and cri tical thinking skills.