Facilitating effective radiation safety workshops: adult learning theories

One of the primary responsibilities of radiation safety officers and staff is to maintain a continuing learning environment for their businesses and institutions. In the current business climate, there continues to be a trend for shorter and shorter training classes for regulatory-required radiation safety training. The "workshop" has often been utilized to assist in providing information, required training, awareness issues, as well as a forum for question and answer periods in a shorter (e.g., 1-4 h) format. In an effort to facilitate more effective workshops, a literature review of basic adult learning theories and research was performed. This review identified four adult learning inquiry areas that encompass various assumptions, theories, processes, and practical approaches as well as research areas. Each of these areas of inquiry is discussed, compared, contrasted, and summarized. From this evaluation, key principles related to educating adults in a workshop environment are identified. This collection of concepts can be considered and practically applied when developing radiation safety learning workshops.