Workshops
We run workshops and debates on diverse topics as well as animation.
For further information on our workshops please send an email to:
Debates help students to understand issues from a global perspective
In December 2010 students from Neston High School, England debated with students from Vidya Vihar School, India using Voters' Views and Skype. The topic of the debate was ‘Mercy killing is a judicious act’. The debate revealed how opinions on this issue can be affected by a wide range of cultural differences - see feedback.
Students in India debate using Skype and Voters' Views with English students. Click image to play.
In December 2011 students from Anand Vidya Vihar School and Neston High School debated the topic of abortion. The students found it a really interesting experience:
‘It was very interesting to hear other people's views from different parts of the world and also how it changed our views.’
Students debate the genetic testing of children
Tina shows Becci Hughes and Will Bell how just a single base pair deletion in her DNA has caused her own inherited bone condition.
In June 2009 Dr Tina Read ran a workshop with students from Priory Sports and Technology College in Preston on genetic testing in children. The workshop was really animated; the students enjoyed using Voter's Views software. It was featured in the education section of the Lancashire Evening Post.
Students debate whether they would be happy to have their DNA sequenced
Tina running a debate between English and Indian students using Voters' Views and Skype. Click image to play.
In July 2010 students from Anand Vidya Vihar School in Vadodara, India used Gene Journey and Skype to debate with students from Oldershaw School, Wallasey, England. The topic for debate was: ‘I would be happy to have the DNA of all my chromosomes sequenced.’ The students in both countries really enjoyed the experience - see feedback.
Indian student voting.
Students from Anand Vidya Vihar have participated in a number of debates with UK schools. In the debates students in both countries vote initially using Voters' Views and then debate using Skype.
In some of these debates, the students in both countries have watched a short video clip from Gene Journey which is relevant to the topic for debate between their initial and final votes. For example, Natalie Glascott explains the reasons why she chose PGD to avoid passing on her inherited bone condition.
At the end of the session there is a final vote which records how their opinions have changed over the course of the session.
Indian students enjoyed the experience: ‘We were filled with joy at having actually participated in an international debate’.
Students debate across the world
Indian teachers visit West Kirby Grammar School whilst the students debate with students from Anand Vidya Vihar School in India.
Photo: Rossiter Media http://www.rossitermedia.co.uk
Students from West Kirby Grammar School, Merseyside, debated with students from Anand Vidya Vihar in India on whether IVF should be available on the NHS:
‘It was fascinating how both groups' overall views changed.’
Graphical representation of the results
Click image to enlarge.
As can be seen from the graph, the British students felt IVF should be a higher medical priority than the Indian students.
‘I really enjoyed the experience and think we should have future debates. It was really nice to hear their opinions, especially because they are from such a different country and lifestyle.’
Another interesting effect was that the views of the two groups started to converge after they had debated with each other.‘It was certainly an interesting experience - it was fascinating how both groups' overall views changed. It was good to learn about the current events concerning IVF treatment and to develop my views on it.’
‘I found the experience fun and interesting. The change in views was a surprising result and we should debate again.’
‘It was especially interesting that at the beginning we regarded IVF as an almost essential part of health care possibly because of our National Health Service. They believed it to be less important possibly because they have private health care. We both influenced the other's views.’
Year 10 students (14/15 years old)
Dance, music and animation workshops
Since March 2009, as a part of Liverpool City council's Aiming High for Disabled Children initiative, Aspire Trust set up the project Time To Play. The project was artistically led by Chaturangan. The Artistic Director of Chaturangan, dance artist, Bisakha Sarker, collaborated with a team of artists (Chris Davies, Sam Meech and Tina Read) to develop and deliver three sets of workshops for children with disabilities and their families.
The Deer and the King animation.
Click image to play.
The aim of the project was to introduce the participants to the fun of learning elements of Indian Dance, the excitement of playing live music and the magic of digital technology. Tina Read was involved as an animator in the July and December workshops. Everyone involved gave consent for the material to be used.
In the final December workshop at the Bluecoat, the participants developed a dance for the story, The Deer and the King, which is based on the Jataka story published by Mantra Publishing. They experimented with musical instruments and chose sounds for the animation which Tina had developed using Flash. They also created and recorded a narration for the animation. Some of the participants drew fish which were incorporated into the Deer and King animation. Another version of the animation was made without subtitles.
The Deer and the King dance, music and animation workshop.
Click image to play movie.
Students debate ethical issues in genetics
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a treatment which enables people with genetic conditions to avoid passing them on to their children. We have debated this topic with school and university students. During these debates, video of Natalie Glascott is played as she has recently had a baby using PGD.
Natalie Glascott with Nathaniel.
In November 2011 this topic was debated by genetics and biomedical science students at the University of Liverpool.
University of Liverpool students voting.
Dr Mike Speed from the Department of Integrative Biology arranged for Dr Tina Read to come and run the debate:
‘Tina Read's session was a very effective and interesting part of our medical genetics module. She talked from first hand experience about life with a heritable disorder, and gave a compelling account of the ethical issues that emerge from new technologies that allow embryos to be screened for such disorders. In her class, our students had a vigorous and thorough discussion, and I am sure that they learnt a lot. In summary a really super class, highly recommended.’
In June 2010, year 10 students from Birkenhead School debated whether PGD should be available on the NHS - see the feedback for comments from the class.
Egbert Weisheit, discusses why PGD is an important issue in Germany.
Click image to play.
German science teacher and teacher trainer, Egbert Weisheit, has been using Gene Journey for several years. He and his students have participated in a number of international debates using Voters' Views.
Jungle Animation
In the July workshops at the Unity Theatre, dance, music and animation was used to take the children on an imaginary journey to a tropical place.
Bisakha Sarker, Tina Read and participating children at a workshop.
Click image to play movie.
The children experimented with a range of musical instruments and chose sounds to represent different animals in a jungle. The jungle animation incorporates the sounds made in all the workshops.
A frame from the jungle animation.
Click image to play.
Snail animation wins award
Animation group from Greasby Junior School with headmaster, Mr Martin. Isla Read, front row, Laurie Read, far right.
Tina and Bob have worked with children from Greasby Junior School to make an animation which won the Children's Award at the Wirral International Film Festival, 2009. The group included their children, Laurie and Isla. The students came up with the storyline and used their own drawings and created all the sound effects.