10.2190/WU9U-N1FK-CFFD-0YJ5 WU9UN1FKCFFD0YJ5 5 Hazardous Waste Inspector Training: Multimedia Information Transfer 331 337 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 WU9UN1FKCFFD0YJ5.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=WU9UN1FKCFFD0YJ5 4 Lisa Bardwell Raymond De Young The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor A major challenge facing hazardous waste management efforts is building a competent inspector workforce. Both federal and state governments acknowledge problems of inexperienced staff, lack of adequate training and insufficient funding and staff support for training. This article describes a unique collaboration between a government agency and academia to develop an effective entry-level training program. The agency provided the setting and content in terms of identifying training needs and procuring technical materials. The university offered innovative educational approaches and technology transfer systems. The guidelines for the design of the training materials focused on coherence, participation, and flexibility. The result was a versatile training program with a set of materials that encourage participant involvement and input. The guidelines have broad application to other efforts at information transfer. USEPA, <i>The Waste System</i>, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, D. C., 1988. General Accounting Office, <i>Hazardous Waste: Facility Inspections Are Not Thorough and Complete</i>, Report GAO/RCED-88-20, Washington, D. C., 1987. P. Nowak, R. De Young, M. Berger, and L. Bardwell (eds.), <i>Hazardous Waste Inspector Training Manual</i>, School of Natural Resources, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1988. L. Bardwell, <i>Train-the-Trainer Manual</i>, School of Natural Resources, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1988. W. J. McKeachie, <i>Teaching Tips: A Guidebook for the Beginning College Teacher</i>, DC Heath & Co., Lexington, Massachusetts, 1986.