Between June and October 2009, Anthony Gormley invited people to apply to appear on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. A different person appeared each hour for 100 days, without a break. Over 35,000 people applied for the honour for one of 2,400 places.

I found out about the ‘One and Other’ project when I attended a lecture by Antony Gormley at the Hay on Wye Literary Festival. I was in awe! He spoke so enthusiastically about his work and his new venture. So, like Charlie trying to get into the chocolate factory, I applied for and got my golden ticket, and took my place on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

I love interactive art, so the One and Other project really excited me and to take part was life changing. It’s been incorporated into my teaching and become part of my CPD. For my hour, I took the opportunity to thank the teachers who had inspired me, then pushed the interaction further with the use of a white board. I recorded my thoughts and what I could hear, smell and see and placed them around the plinth. I also announced I was an expectant father and asked the crowd to suggest names for the new arrival.

This amazing experience is now a unique way for me to grab students’ attention when I’m teaching and give them a glimpse into the excitement of the real art world. Showing the footage (archived for posterity by the British Library) I ask them what they would do. The results are astounding and inspire debate that can often be difficult when discussing art.

My employer, Telford College of Art (TCAT), fully supported me in this project and is very proactive in encouraging staff in their professional development. Now, when I look back on my CPD record, I feel proud of what I have done. Through reflection, I now think more about what I do, what I might change in class and what I’ve collected through this experience on the fourth plinth.

As a dual professional, it’s important to be a working artist as well as an art teacher. This experience has spurred me on in both my teaching and art, encouraging me to do an exhibition of my work in Telford later this year and to undertake further work in the community.

Andrew McIntyre, MIfL is an Art Lecturer at Telford College of Art and Technology.