Using Interactive Technologies to Inspire Young Minds

Come and share Catherine’s story of how she has integrated the use of interactive technology into all areas of the curriculum and developed strategies for appropriate questioning for all children and not just the outspoken few who always answer.

Also see related Promethean seminar G1H.

Catherine MacMillan. Early Years Educator, Bowmore Primary School, Isle of Islay

Catherine MacMillan
Catherine has recently been awarded a Scottish Education Award in the BT Scotland ICT Learning category by the Scottish Executive. The award follows Argyll and Bute Council equipping the school with a Promethean Activboard and a set of Activote – the learner response system. Since then, Catherine and her early years colleagues have been using the technology with great effect.

Catherine has embarked on a number of imaginative projects with her children, including making a short news clip for the local schools’ newsroom project, as well as recording and photographing a bear hunt in the local woods. She goes on to explain: “The children then narrate their version of the adventure using the interactive whiteboard software with the teacher typing it out to create a giant interactive story.”

Florence MacDougall, Bowmore Primary head teacher, says: “To meet the criteria for nomination at the Awards, it wasn’t sufficient to have implemented interactive whiteboards – they had to be utilised in an innovative and creative way. This proves the importance of being properly trained on your interactive technology and fully getting to grip with its features. It’s not about what you have, it’s how you use it!”

The interactive technology has also been an invaluable tool for children learning Gaelic.