The digital revolution

Primary History article

By Jerome Freeman, published 11th December 2012

Developments in information technology continue at an extraordinary pace. Many young children will have little or no idea of what it was like to live in a world without mobile phones, computers and the Internet.

    • Most children will regularly make use of devices such as smart phones, digital cameras and tablets sooner rather than later.
    • We are in the midst of a digital revolution, an age where individuals are able to transfer information at the touch of a button, where they have instant access to information that would previously have been difficult or impossible to find, and where they can network globally.

  • The Digital Age is likely to have a profound effect on children's personal, educational and working lives. So what are the implications of all of this for history in the classroom?

ICT and primary history

Historical sources

ICT gives both teachers and children almost instant access to a wide range of historical sources including digitised primary materials. It Fires children's curiosity and imagination by introducing them to the rich online collection of historical artefacts for example from the British Museum, or it can bring the past back to life through giving them access to the fascinating array of British Pathé News.

Enquiry skills

ICT can be used to develop children's skills of historical enquiry. For example create an online collection of local history sources and ask the children to...

This resource is FREE for Primary HA Members.

Non HA Members can get instant access for £2.75

Add to Basket Join the HA