A unique learning resource that stars pupils from Derryboye Primary School has been launched with a special event at Stormont.
Entitled Our Innovators: An Ulster-Scots Legacy, the comprehensive educational tool examines the legacy of local visionaries with Ulster-Scots connections and is available free of charge online.
Designed for Key Stage 2 pupils, ‘Our Innovators’ delves into the lives of six remarkable innovators including engineer Lord Kelvin and missionary Amy Carmichael. Developed in association with a steering group of teachers, the bespoke programme covers a breadth of educational goals set by the curriculum. Children who use the tool can explore the impact of some of the world’s greatest inventions, the effect of people on the natural and built environment, while also valuing and celebrating cultural diversity.
Created by the e-learning team at leading integrated communications agency, Morrow Communications, ‘Our Innovators’ is funded by Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund (USBF) and supported by the Ulster-Scots Agency and CCEA.
The resource is hosted on a bespoke website:
and includes teacher guides, lesson plans and interactive material; including educational videos featuring local primary students and interactive games.
Aisling Gallagher, Producer at Morrow Communications said: “Taking our steer from the subject matter in hand, we wanted to be as innovative as possible when showcasing the legacy of each of the innovators and worked with primary school pupils to tell their stories in a unique way. The participation of the school children has, I hope, made the resource something pupils and teachers will really want to use in their classrooms and I would like to thank all the schools that took part.”
Speaking about the applications of the e-learning resource Ian Crozier, CEO of the Ulster-Scots Agency said; “Our Innovators adopts a dynamic and refreshing approach to promoting the rich heritage, history and culture of Ulster-Scots and we are delighted to support Morrow Communications in its development. The teaching applications from ‘Our Innovators’ are endless.
“As well as the educational videos, the e-learning resource comes fully equipped with lesson plans, study ideas and interactive games to help schools teach pupils about science, history and culture, or as a useful springboard into many other curriculum topics.”
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “The Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund is very keen to support the production of content that can be useful in the classroom teaching the curriculum. We are delighted that Our Innovators is just that, packaging the wonderful role models that these innovators of Ulster-Scots background were and are.
“We would like to thank Morrow Communications, the Ulster Scots Agency and CCEA for their part in bringing this project to fruition.”
The ‘Our Innovators: An Ulster-Scots Legacy’ platform focuses on the lives of missionary Amy Carmichael and engineer Harry Ferguson both from Co Down, John Boyd Dunlop, who invented the pneumatic tyre in Belfast, gifted scientist and mathematician Lord Kelvin, educational innovator Margaret Byers and Prof Frank Pantridge who invented the portable defibrillator.
