Live, three-day course
Online training for PhDs, Postdocs and Research Fellows in science-related fields
Gain the skills and confidence to deliver inspirational outreach with lasting impact
to children of any age.
Gain the skills and confidence to deliver inspirational outreach with lasting impact
to children of any age.
Why should I do this course?
Download our FREE guide: 3 proven strategies to inspire children through your STEM outreach
Who is the course suitable for?
Testimonials
What does the course cover?
What is the course format?
Meet the facilitator
What do I need to take part in the course?
How do I join?
Book a place on the November Online course
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Download our FREE guide: 3 proven strategies to inspire children through your STEM outreach
Who is the course suitable for?
Testimonials
What does the course cover?
What is the course format?
Meet the facilitator
What do I need to take part in the course?
How do I join?
Book a place on the November Online course
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
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Start your journey towards outstanding outreach with children, with this free download.
Children are creative, open-minded and so much fun to work with! Spark their curiosity, boost their confidence and they’ll give purpose, reward and hope to everything you do. Based on my experiences over fifteen years working with children and researchers, I've put together 3 of the strategies I find most effective, that you can start using straight away to engage and inspire all the children you're working with and give you a truly rewarding experience. |
Why should I do this course?
Do you want to:
✅ Inspire children with your science
✅ Deliver outreach that has a lasting impact
✅ Finish an outreach session with a huge smile on your face, and get invited back!
✅ Support the next generation to aspire to a future in science-related fields...
Then this course is for you.
Perhaps you've never done any outreach with children but want to, or perhaps you've done some but felt...
❓unsure how to pitch the language?
❓your research might be too complex for children?
❓worried some children won't be interested?
❓unsure how to structure it effectively?
❓unsure how to work with schools
❓children are scary!!
✅ With years of experience engaging children of all ages and bridging the gap between post graduate research and children's education, I'll show you how to focus your research and translate it into engaging and inspirational outreach for children of all ages.
✅I've trained PGRs in science-related fields from over eighteen universities and research institutes to date, and have not yet come across a research topic we can't turn into exciting outreach!
✅ I'll share strategies and tools to allow you to adapt your language, pitch, objectives and session structure to deliver outreach with children that is inclusive, accessible and engaging for all.
✅ You'll learn to work effectively with schools and link your outreach to the National Curriculum so that they welcome you and invite you back.
✅ Best of all, you'll have the opportunity to meet real children, put your skills to the test, and discover that they are brilliant, funny, wonderful and not in the least bit scary!
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
✅ Inspire children with your science
✅ Deliver outreach that has a lasting impact
✅ Finish an outreach session with a huge smile on your face, and get invited back!
✅ Support the next generation to aspire to a future in science-related fields...
Then this course is for you.
Perhaps you've never done any outreach with children but want to, or perhaps you've done some but felt...
❓unsure how to pitch the language?
❓your research might be too complex for children?
❓worried some children won't be interested?
❓unsure how to structure it effectively?
❓unsure how to work with schools
❓children are scary!!
✅ With years of experience engaging children of all ages and bridging the gap between post graduate research and children's education, I'll show you how to focus your research and translate it into engaging and inspirational outreach for children of all ages.
✅I've trained PGRs in science-related fields from over eighteen universities and research institutes to date, and have not yet come across a research topic we can't turn into exciting outreach!
✅ I'll share strategies and tools to allow you to adapt your language, pitch, objectives and session structure to deliver outreach with children that is inclusive, accessible and engaging for all.
✅ You'll learn to work effectively with schools and link your outreach to the National Curriculum so that they welcome you and invite you back.
✅ Best of all, you'll have the opportunity to meet real children, put your skills to the test, and discover that they are brilliant, funny, wonderful and not in the least bit scary!
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
Who is it suitable for?
The course is suitable for researchers working in any science-related field. It is most often attended by PhD researchers / PGRs, but would be suitable for any researcher at any stage of their career, who is interested in developing the skills to communicate effectively with children.
Researchers from a diverse range of departments have been benefiting from this course since 2018: Ecological sciences, Geographical sciences, Palaeo Oceanography, Biological sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Electrical engineering, Mathematical sciences, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Psychology and more, Biochemistry, Archaeology, Genetics, Dentistry, Medical and so much more...
Whether you have previous outreach experience or none, whether you are introvert or extrovert you will find this course supports you to develop your skills and confidence to deliver successful outreach with children.
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
Researchers from a diverse range of departments have been benefiting from this course since 2018: Ecological sciences, Geographical sciences, Palaeo Oceanography, Biological sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Electrical engineering, Mathematical sciences, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Psychology and more, Biochemistry, Archaeology, Genetics, Dentistry, Medical and so much more...
Whether you have previous outreach experience or none, whether you are introvert or extrovert you will find this course supports you to develop your skills and confidence to deliver successful outreach with children.
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
Testimonials
Katie O'Brien: Attended the online GW4+ Effective Outreach with Children course in 2021
"Amanda is an very experienced and knowledgeable outreach practitioner, and she has been a pleasure to work with from start to finish. Amanda delivered ‘Effective Outreach with Children’, a three-day course for postgraduate researchers at the University of Sheffield. The content of the course was perfectly pitched and Amanda gave her own unique insights and tips to our researchers that significantly improved their practice. Seeing our researchers go from never having delivered outreach to becoming confident and enthusiastic facilitators was fantastic. We have had glowing feedback from the researchers who took part, especially regarding the opportunities Amanda arranged for them to work directly with children as part of the course. I would wholeheartedly recommend Amanda’s programmes and look forward to working with her again!"
Dr. Emma Suret
Researcher Development Manager & Lead for PGR Supervisor Development
The University of Sheffield
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Mean participant confidence scores before and after the course (5 point scale).
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Jordan Blanchard Lafayette: Attended the Envision Effective Outreach with Children course in 2023 (online)
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
What does the course cover?
Throughout this course you will receive individually tailored support and guidance to:
Develop detailed plans for an inspirational outreach session with children, specific to your individual field of research:
Gain the confidence and skills to deliver successful outreach with children, both face to face and online:
Become familiar with school practices and procedures:
Gain basic knowledge of the British education system and National Curriculum:
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
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Develop detailed plans for an inspirational outreach session with children, specific to your individual field of research:
- You'll come away with a structured lesson plan; activities; equipment lists; risk assessment, draft emails and more.
- Learn methods to turn your research into engaging activities that will excite children in the short-term and inspire them in the long-term.
- Take away a range of resources you will use again and again to plan and structure successful outreach.
Gain the confidence and skills to deliver successful outreach with children, both face to face and online:
- Receive top tips and strategies to manage behaviour, make your outreach accessible and learn easy ways to level your language for different audiences.
- Enjoy an opportunity to interact with an online panel of students. They'll be keen to ask and answer questions and allow you to practice your new skills!
- Experience a range of methods to keep students engaged and inspired during online outreach.
Become familiar with school practices and procedures:
- From criminal record checks to staff room etiquette, safeguarding to the school calendar... You'll gain familiarity with the school perspective so that you feel more confident to operate in schools and are more likely to be welcomed back.
Gain basic knowledge of the British education system and National Curriculum:
- Learn to link your outreach to the curriculum objectives to give it the best chance of being welcomed by educational organisations.
- Make sense of commonly used educational acronyms and use the curriculum to pitch your outreach effectively.
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
Online Course Format
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Currently, the course is available in person and as an online course spanning three consecutive days, delivered using a blended approach comprising a careful balance of:
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Currently, the course is available in person and as an online course spanning three consecutive days, delivered using a blended approach comprising a careful balance of:
- Live, interactive events (Zoom): opportunities for peer learning, guided support, feedback and question and answer sessions.
- Independent learning tasks through a 'Moodle' virtual classroom: Participants access video tutorials and supportive resources to enable them to develop their skills and outreach event at their own pace.
- 1:1 meet & chat support: tailored one to one support is always on hand during independent learning tasks.
- Small group "breakout sessions": opportunities to benefit from peer discussions and experience.
Facilitation
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Amanda is a science educator, former researcher, and founder of Sparking STEM; an accredited provider of science education. With over fifteen years of experience teaching children of all ages, she specialises in inclusive and inspirational science education that makes children want to learn more. She empowers researchers and educators to transform complex topics into engaging education that delivers lasting impact.
Since 2018, Amanda has trained researchers from over eighteen universities and research institutes, receiving consistently outstanding feedback. She works closely with schools and home-educating families, teaching children outdoors, indoors, and online. She has earned a reputation for her specialist support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Her journey as a parent to a neurodivergent child, and as an educator to hundreds of children with varied and complex needs, has shaped her creative, curiosity-led teaching strategies—approaches that reduce pressure, boost confidence, and open up learning for every child. Amanda holds a BSc in Zoology, an MSc in Applied Entomology, and a PGCE (science specialism). Her early career included fieldwork as a terrestrial ecotoxicologist specialising in earthworm ecology in Europe, followed by a research and training role in global equine welfare, where she worked across India, Pakistan, Guatemala, Egypt, Kenya, Jordan, and Ethiopia — training vets and striving to improve lives in rural communities. She now lives in Sheffield with her two boys, husband and a menagerie of weird and wonderful animals. She loves all things nature, wildlife and the environment, and is often found looking at invertebrates under logs, watching birds and exploring the Peak District. Always on the lookout for teaching inspiration, she’s known for assembling skeletons and crafting educational gifts and decorations from (naturally-shed) snakeskin! |
Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
What do I need to take part?
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To take part, you will need:
Back to top |
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Coming soon!
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
An asynchronous, online version of the course will be available soon. You'll be able to select the modules most relevant to you and work through them at your own pace by video tutorials and interactive elements. There will still be options for 1:1 live support and opportunities to meet real children!
Complete this quick survey to have your say on what the course should include, and register your interest so you'll hear when it's ready.
Back to top
