The purpose of this Toolkit is:
— To explain the main concepts and elements of a participatory curriculum development process.
— To present practical skills and knowledge leading to the effective design of training programmes.
— To allow learners to acquire confidence in applying new methods and approaches to teaching and learning.
— To show how to use a participatory approach in agroforestry training programmes.
This Toolkit emphasizes an active learning approach, based on a process of experience, reflection and action. The key principle is that people do not learn simply by passive listening. They need to be involved from the onset of the training, even in the design of the programme where possible. This approach challenges traditional roles of teachers and students or trainers and trainees. To use this Toolkit effectively, teachers and trainers need to reflect on their own roles in the learning process. They will need to become learners, along with other participants in training programmes. They will need to understand and practise effective facilitation and communication skills, as well as bringing in their technical knowledge. The Toolkit focuses on the design of a training programme using a participatory approach referred to as PCD, or Participatory Curriculum Development.
Trainers and teachers who follow this approach in the design of their own training courses, will find that the chances of successful outcomes will be greatly increased.