What is the purpose of a workshop?

"A workshop can introduce a new concept, spurring participants to investigate it further on their own, or can demonstrate and encourage the practice of actual methods. It's a great way to teach hands-on skills because it offers participants a chance to try out new methods and fail in a safe situation."

My workshops are very casual, informal, dynamic and cooperative. What I mean by 'cooperative' is I encourage attendees to teach each other things, because...I certainly don't know everything!

At the end of the day we are all there to 'workshop' ideas and techniques together -- we are there to learn and experiment -- where that knowledge and skill comes from doesn't matter to me.