Northern Ireland

Ulster-Scots e-learning tool is the picture of creativity

The launch of a new interactive educational resource Our Artists
The launch of a new interactive educational resource Our Artists The launch of a new interactive educational resource Our Artists

A NEW classroom resource that focuses on the lives and creations of artists with Ulster-Scots connections has been developed for schools.

Our Artists: An Ulster-Scots Legacy is a free comprehensive learning resource that explores the impact of six artists.

Available to use from September, it has been created in association with teachers to help target key curriculum areas including the arts, language and literature, history and science.

It focuses on the lives of sculptor Anne Crawford Acheson, portrait and landscape artist Frank McKelvey, painter John Luke, artist, calligrapher and art teacher Mercy Hunter, `the peoples painter' William Conor and Fermanagh born abstract artist William Scott.

Designed for Key Stage 2 pupils, it has been developed by Morrow Communication's e-learning team, funded by the Northern Ireland Screen Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund and supported by CCEA and Ulster-Scots Agency.

As well as shining a light on the lives of local artists, this new resource features pupils from schools across the north who lent their creative talent to the videos featured on the Our Artists' website.

Aisling Gallagher, Producer at Morrow Communications said Our Artists provided teachers with a way to equip young people with skills and knowledge harnessed from successful figures of our past.

"It acts as a `one stop shop' providing everything from teacher guides and lesson plans to interactive material, including videos featuring local primary students and online interactive games. Both Our Artists and Our Innovators aim to highlight our Ulster-Scots as a truly inclusive and positive aspect of heritage for all sectors of our community," she said.

Ian Crozier, CEO of the Ulster-Scots Agency added: "As well as hosting a wealth of arts material, the content found on Our Artists can be used to facilitate learning in many other essential curriculum areas. Importantly, the tool can also be used by teachers and pupils to learn about and celebrate cultural diversity and the rich heritage of Ulster-Scots in a contemporary and dynamic way."

Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, said the classroom tool put diversity and learning at the heart of learning.

"The wealth of information contained in Our Artists is impressive and I'm sure many teachers and parents will end up learning just as many interesting facts as their pupils and children," he said.

:: Our Artists: An Ulster-Scots Legacy will be hosted at www.our-artists.com, and will be available for use free of charge from September 2017.