The course, held at the Centre for Didactic and Managerial Training, covered innovative and experiential methodologies and was co-designed in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at the University of Florence. Eleven officers from the Italian Air Force and two civilian employees participated in the course. The new training programme, co-designed with the Department of Psychology at the University of Florence, chaired by Prof. Carlo Odoardi, is the natural continuation of the 1st level course and focused on the use of modern training methods, such as distance learning (with a collaborative approach) and experiential training, with particular reference to outdoor activities. These innovative methods, on the one hand, make participants“ learning more effective and, on the other, constitute supplementary teaching tools that every trainer can use in their professional activities. The course consists of four distinct phases: four weeks of distance learning, during which each participant follows a guided learning path to deepen their understanding of training principles in complex environments; one week of in-person training, during which participants develop specific skills on group dynamics and experiential training through outdoor activities; three weeks of distance learning on the e-learning platform, during which participants work on a Project Work on the course topics using a ”cooperative learning" model overseen by the Centre's tutors; and finally, three weeks of in-person training, during which some key content is consolidated and essential subjects for a trainer, such as training design and evaluation, are deepened.
The “Formazione Formatori 2° livello” (Trainer Training Level 2) course, which falls under the umbrella of advanced university-level training, has been specifically designed for trainers involved in various capacities in complex and significant training pathways. Its objective is to impart methodologies and tools with a particular focus on active methods and so-called experiential training, which is central to strengthening/developing specific “soft” or “social” skills (team building/working, time management, communication, problem-solving, etc.). This is in line with fostering a culture of "continuous training," considered a strategic lever in any organisational context.
