We have had the pleasure of updating our primary school history policy recently and we used ICT in a number of ways to create resources that may be used within the classroom. We found ICT particularly useful in creating a bank of resources on the local history of Harolds Cross, Dublin where the school is located.
Visualiser, Digital Camera & Interactive Whiteboard
We have a number of history books with fascinating pictures that we use visualisers to display on the Interactive Whiteboard within the classroom. Also, we have taken pictures of different historical photos in books and display them with child friendly text in PowerPoint presentations. Ensure that you email the publisher of the book to ask permission to reuse the photos for educational purposes.
The National Library of Ireland Catalogue also provides excellent quality photos from the past that you can compare and contrast with a recent photo taken in the area.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/89HcVKcH0P4[/youtube]
There have been a number of signifcant events that have taken place in the Harold’s Cross area over recent years and two of these are documented on YouTube: the floods of 2011 and the carrying of the Olympic Torch over the Harold’s Cross bridge in 2012. It is easy to show pupils these clips and to discuss their local area and create timelines using them. We also found using the archives of the national newspapers to be of benefit in relation to local history as they provided photos and interesting articles about the local area that may be used in the senior classes.
The National Arhcives website facility to search the 1901 & 1911census is an invaluable resource for pupils to see who lived in their local area for those years.
An interesting site that I have come across also is Neil Jackman’sArabta Audio guides to Irish history. Neil an Irish archaeologist has created a number audio guides on different parts of Irish history. He has created an excellent one on Viking and Medieval Dublin. Other audio guides include:The 1916 Rising, The Rock of Cashel and The Hill of Tara.
