about the course

This new and innovative training course exploits the power of engagement techniques used by informal science educators and professional performers (such as magicians, comedians, television presenters, storytellers, and street entertainers) to catch and hold the attention of their audience. Although the underlying techniques taught in the course are grounded in the latest educational and psychological research, they are delivered in a very experiential manner. It includes advice, discussions and practical activities dealing with a selection of the following issues:

• why engage the public in your research?
• confidence in making presentations
• presentation skills to evoke emotions and engage
• engaging young people of different ages
• practical issues in working with schools
• explaining STEM concepts as accessibly and accurately as possible
• presenting demonstrations
• presenting hands-on workshops and discussions
• overview of national STEM engagment opportunities
• how to develop your own engaging presentations
• evaluating presentations.

The experience of the course trainer means that participants will be able to seek guidance on how their subject might relate to the National Curriculum and how best to pitch the level of their presentations for different audiences.

Support notes will be provided. Also, each participant will be able to contact the trainer by phone or email for personal coaching for six months following the course as they implement the techniques.

The course is available in either one or two day formats depending on the range of issues you would like to cover. Due to the experiential nature of the course and individual feedback given to each participant, it is necessary to restrict the numbers on each course to a maximum of 20 people. Within this limit, the fewer the people, the greater the amount of individual support can be given to each researcher.