INNOVATORS of technology in education from around the UK and overseas have inspired teachers and students at a first of its kind exhibition in Furness.

The first Innovate, Motivate and Educate through Technology exhibition, hosted Dalton St Mary's CE Primary School in its role as the Cumbria Regional Training Centre for Apple technology, saw international visitors from Poland among those demonstrating their products and sharing their knowledge with around 100 teachers.

Dalton St Mary's has embedded Apple technology across the whole school and curriculum. All the pupils from Year Two to Year Six have their own iPad, and the younger pupils also use the devices. Teachers use this technology to teach lessons to enrich the learning experience.

Hannah Croskery, the deputy head at Dalton St Mary's, leads the Cumbria Regional Training Centre for Apple and trains other teachers across the area to use technology to impact positively on teaching and learning.

The event at Abbey House Hotel on March 22 was like a mini BETT (British Educational Training and Technology) Show, with technology firms showing how teaching and learning can be transformed in classrooms.

The Explain Everything App was represented by Jakub Mastalerz and Agnieszka Przeniosto from Poland. The day included a series of iPad workshops showcasing a range of apps which can engage pupils, increase the pace of lessons, streamline workflow and planning, marking and assessment time.

Pupils who are digital leaders from Dalton St Mary's were also showing teachers from other schools how they use their iPads and various apps.

Mrs Croskery said: "The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It was a real success.

"It was an international exhibition, with Jakub and Agnieszka coming from Poland with Explain Everything, which was beyond exciting. Every single exhibitor said they would like to come back next year.

"The digital learners had such a good day. They really enjoyed showcasing how they use their iPads."

Mrs Croskery thanked all those exhibited and visited the event. The companies attending were; GBM Technologies, System IT, Discovery Education, Scholarpack, Now Press Play, Rising Stars, TrilbyTV, Night Zookeeper, Pobble, Earwig Academic, Medium, First News, Parotech Solutions, Zu3D, Explain Everything and iCompute.

Mrs Croskery is planning to have an events in South and North Cumbria next year.