felicityaston
expeditions.speaking.writing
Presentations and Workshops for Schools and Colleges
Workshops are a fantastic way to effortlessly engage the interest of students in a particular subject. Designed for a maximum of 36 students, the workshops can be held in a normal sized classroom and timed to fit around the school's scheduled breaks and timetable to ensure minimum disruption to the school day.
The talks and workshops outlined below have been used by schools as an exciting addition to Science Week, Gifted and Talented programmes, Prefect Training, Sixth Form Studies, Prize-giving ceremonies and end of term activity weeks. The Antarctica Workshops and talks have also proved to be an effective introduction to the Antarctica, Climate Change and Environmental Conservation units of the Science and Geography National Curriculum Programmes of Study and fit neatly in to several QCA schemes of work.
Read what schools have said about Felicity's talks from accounts on school websites:
Crompton Primary School, Oldham
Cheltenham Ladies College (article written by students)
Leadership Workshop
The idea of a Polar Expedition is used as a basis to explore the role and responsibility of a leader and to develop techniques of leadership. Students are split into small expedition teams and invited to organise their own (imaginary) polar expedition. Starting with the search for sponsorship, the teams are presented with a series of scenarios, each designed to highlight a particular leadership issue ranging from communication to integrity. Students take it in turns to fill the leadership role and to discuss their thoughts with the group after each activity.
Antarctica Workshop
Based on her own experiences as a scientist with the British Antarctic Survey monitoring climate and ozone, Felicity provides a real insight into the realities and importance of this enthralling continent. Through a number of engaging and fully interactive activities such as trying Antarctic clothing and designing a new Antarctic research station, students are introduced to the geography and character of Antarctica as well as to the issues facing those attempting to protect this irreplaceable wilderness. At the end of the workshop students have a better understanding of the science that takes place in Antarctica and why this work is of global importance as well as an overview of the factors that threaten Antarctica's future.
Team Building Workshop
Using the multi-national team of the recent Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole as a case study, the workshop aims to highlight the charcateristics of an effective team and give students the skills needed to work together effectively as a group. Students are guided through the principles of teamwork before being invited to put the theory into practise by forming small teams and embarking on an imaginary expedition of their own. The teams are presented with several challenges during their expedition which can only be solved by working together as a group.
Aspirations
Whatever our background and situation, each of us has our own personal aspirations but not all of us turn those ambitions into reality. In 2005 Felicity's aspiration was to take part in the Polar Challenge, a 360-mile endurance race across Arctic Canada. Before her 3-women team could start the race they had to become fitter than they ever thought possible, learn new and complex skills, bond together as an efficient unit and raise enough money to cover the race costs. This illustrated presentation is not just a tale of adventure but a demonstration of how clear goal-setting, the right attitude and perseverance can help everyone achieve their own life targets.
Antarctica
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to stand in the coldest place on Earth or to live without the sun for months on end? Packed with stunning images, this presentation creates a tangible impression of what it is like to live and work in Antarctica. Sharing her own experiences as the youngest person over-wintering, Felicity describes life on an Antarctic Research Station - the wildlife, the scenery, the science and the drama (including a catastrophic station fire and a medical emergency at the South Pole). Completely isolated from the rest of the world for 7 months of the year, Felicity provides a clear explanation of the science being undertaken in Antarctica and why it is so important to the World that this science is allowed to continue.
"An innovative way to explore Leadership skills - a focused and themed workshop."
- Woldingham School
"Felicity did a great job. She was very motivating and energetic. I would love there to be more workshops like this"
- Student
"An excellent presentation - informative and inspiring. The girls are still talking about it!"
- St Leonards Mayfield
"Your talk was pitched at exactly the right level. It was entertaining, humorous and kept everybody entranced."
- Hextable School
"Felicity was very inspiring and made the workshop fun and enjoyable. She was a good public speaker and told a very interesting story and really opened my eyes in terms of leadership."
- Student
"The Leadership Workshop was excellent; it enabled students to experience the challenge of being real leaders."
- Highsted Grammar School
"The feedback from staff and students alike has been very positive. The students not only found it interesting but fascinating and so informative."
- St Anselm's Catholic School
"I have developed a better idea of what a good leader should be like. It was good fun, I enjoyed it."
- Student
"...your presentation has given the boys a far greater appreciation of the conditions and the environmental issues involved with visiting Antarctica."
- Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys