Teaching integrated coastal management: lessons from the learning arena

This paper addresses difficulties associated with the definition of the field of integrated coastal management and the packaging of relevant knowledge and skills for program and curriculum development purposes. Context, inter-disciplinarity, integration and process are discussed as critical elements in curriculum development. The learning arena (classroom setting) is then discussed with reference to program objectives, a balance between knowledge and skills, methodology and faculty to deliver the program and core courses. The author concludes by emphasizing that different contexts will necessitate different approaches to the teaching of the field and that curriculum developers should beware of easy solutions.