Public Speaking & Experiential Learning
Learning that connects with the real world
Scafidi Education delivers conference sessions, school workshops and educational projects that connect curriculum with AI, inquiry, outdoor education, service learning and authentic real-world experiences.
Oscar Scafidi draws on twenty years of international education, extensive experience across Africa, Guinness World Record-setting major expedition projects and practical curriculum design to create engaging sessions for educators and students. These have ranged from Grade 1 Writer’s Workshop to lecturing an audience at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
Speaking & Workshops
Practical ideas grounded in real experience
Speaking engagements and workshops are designed around the needs of each school, conference or audience. Sessions combine practical educational experience with clear communication, strong storytelling, audio-visual elements and opportunities for discussion and application.
AI in Education
Practical sessions on AI integration, AI tutors, academic integrity, assessment design and student agency.
Curriculum & Assessment
Workshops on inquiry-based learning, context-specific curriculum design, assessment literacy and making expectations clear to students.
Outdoor & Experiential Learning
Sessions exploring how authentic experiences, fieldwork and expeditions can support inquiry, interdisciplinary learning and student agency.
Service Learning
Using meaningful real-world projects to connect learning with communities, humanitarian issues and local context.
Student Talks
Engaging presentations for students drawing on expedition, travel, education and real-world experience.
Professional Learning
Interactive workshops for teachers, departments and leadership teams.
Current Speaking
AIFE Bangkok 2026
From AI Answers to Student Judgement: Using an AI Tutor to Scaffold Ethical Inquiry in MYP Individuals & Societies
This workshop explores how AI tutors can be designed to support judgement, inquiry and productive struggle rather than simply supplying answers. It focuses on purposeful constraints, questioning, role design and curriculum alignment. Slides are available here.
Expedition-Based Learning
Kayak The Kwanza
Angola
Kayak The Kwanza was a Guinness World Record-setting 1,300km expedition along Angola’s longest river. The project combined exploration, humanitarian fundraising, storytelling, education and engagement with communities along the route.
The expedition raised US$25,000 for The HALO Trust and subsequently became an educational resource for students, including use as the focus of PYP Exhibition and MYP Personal Project work.
Kayak The Kwanza Documentary
Outdoor Education
A major expedition requiring planning, resilience, teamwork and adaptation.
Service Learning
US$25,000 raised for humanitarian landmine clearance through The HALO Trust.
Student Projects
The expedition has been used as the focus of both a PYP Exhibition and MYP Personal Project work.
Storytelling
The expedition generated a book, film, Guinness World Record and extensive public speaking material.
Expedition-Based Learning
Kayak The Mangoky
Madagascar
Kayak The Mangoky was a world-first source-to-sea kayaking expedition along Madagascar’s longest river. The project combined exploration with education, community engagement and opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.
The expedition included classroom push-ins, school talks and student engagement, using real-world experience to explore geography, culture, service, challenge and inquiry.
Kayak The Mangoky Documentary
Classroom Engagement
Push-in lessons and direct interaction with students in Madagascar.
School Talks
Using expedition experience as a starting point for discussion, inquiry and reflection.
Interdisciplinary Learning
Connections with geography, culture, environment, storytelling and service learning.
Authentic Context
Using a real expedition to connect curriculum with place and lived experience.
Educational Philosophy
From experience to inquiry
Experiential learning is most powerful when the experience itself is not the endpoint. The educational value comes from the questions it generates, the connections students make and the opportunities it creates for reflection, research and action.
Authenticity
Use real people, places, problems and experiences as meaningful starting points for learning.
Local Context
Connect curriculum to the communities, environments and issues surrounding students.
Inquiry
Turn experiences into questions that require investigation, interpretation and judgement.
Student Agency
Give students meaningful opportunities to choose, create, reflect and act.
The aim is to create learning experiences that students remember because they have genuine meaning beyond the classroom.
Potential Topics
Sessions for educators and students
AI and the Future of Learning
Designing AI Tutors that Support Productive Struggle
AI, Assessment and Academic Integrity
Context-Specific Curriculum Design
Outdoor and Experiential Education
My Life Exploring: Turning Expeditions into Learning Experiences
African Expeditions, Exploration and Storytelling
My Writing Journey
Speaking & Projects
Bring real-world experience into your learning community
Whether you are organising a conference, professional learning programme, student event or experiential learning initiative, Scafidi Education can develop a session around the needs of your audience and context.
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