Interactivity for courses in resource and territory management

30/09/2011 - Article

Students find it easier to apply knowledge acquired through interactive courses than that acquired through theoretical courses. It was this observation that prompted a team of researchers to develop a virtual course aimed at developing interactive teaching tools in the field of resource and territory management. The course is intended for teaching staff keen to practise such teaching methods.

The course on interactive teaching tools for concerted resource and territory management involves using interactivity in the higher education sector, particularly with regard to concerted management of natural resources and territories. The examples and interactive tools provided are based on experiments of consultation on building territory projects, water management, and town planning. In this case, "interactivity" refers to a teaching method whereby students can bring their own knowledge and try out the study topic (in this case consultation), so as to understand it better and build their capacity to implement it. The tools on offer are role play, territory construction games, and videos of consultation sessions.

It is now accepted that students only rarely put into practice theoretical elements that they are taught. This results in a lack of professional know-how at the end of their course. It has also been observed that interactive courses are much more rewarding for students, who are more involved in discussions and often ask more questions. They find it easier to take on board the approaches and tools on offer.

The aim is thus to offer teaching staff interactive teaching methods covering consultation with respect to resource and territory management. Those methods have to enable them to pass on professional know-how to students, while allowing them to go back to the theory behind the questions addressed.