How can you reduce the learning curve for charrette participants? If you have a complex issue like affordable housing or sustainable street design you may not want to wait until the charrette to start the discussion. Holding an educational event a month or two before the charrette can help reduce the time spent providing people with the technical information essential to a fully informed discussion. Otherwise people may arrive at the charrette set in a position based on their understanding of a limited number of design possibilities, such as a recent poorly designed housing development. Educational workshops or lectures allow the time for participants to gain a more holistic understanding of the issues, expand their range of perceived outcomes and possibly change their position. Other pre-charrette educational events include bus tours and neighborhood walks. For more see The Charrette Handbook pp. 49-51.