So yea, you'd probably get better results from some system designed by good teachers that could then be replicated without requiring the talent that produced it on a regular basis.
But I'm sure that same training/workshop would be a much better experience when delivered by the minds that created it than a robot that is just repeating the steps.
When I went to University what I wanted was knowledge-sharing by subject matter experts with a passion for teaching. What I got in most cases was researchers that were reading from a script and essentially ticking the boxes of the course outline.
A well designed 'active learning' session is going to have value to students for the same reason a well designed lecture will, it was created by someone with the ability to teach.