Using external digital resources

Many countries have access to rich supplies of online data which the general public may not be aware of. A wide range of online tools, platforms, and repositories offer educational content related to arts, culture, and heritage. These resources may include digital maps, archives, databases, virtual tours, and interactive exhibits, including both local and national initiatives. These resources provide convenient access to a wealth of information and multimedia content from anywhere with an internet connection, making them valuable assets for both staff, educators, and participants.

Staff and educators

• Staff and educators can use external digital resources to conduct research, gather materials, and prepare educational materials for their programs. Digital archives and repositories offer access to primary sources, historical documents, artwork, and multimedia content.

Participant engagement

• Participants can explore external digital resources independently or as part of guided activities to learn about local history, cultural heritage, and artistic traditions. Interactive maps allow participants to explore heritage sites, cultural landmarks, and artistic treasures from their own homes.
• Encourage participants to engage with digital repositories and archives to inspire their own creative projects. Access to digital collections of artwork, photographs, music, and literature can serve as sources of inspiration for artistic expression and storytelling.

Examples from the Oideas Gael pilot project

In Ireland there is a rich tradition of storytelling based on the landscape. These stories explain how certain geographical features came to be formed and the origins of place names. Certain elements of this oral tradition are thought to be many hundreds of years old, perhaps thousands in some cases. Although endangered, the tradition is still living and in pockets of the country it is yet unbroken. The Irish pilot project used music to illustrate one story from this tradition, in order to present it in an appealing way to a new audience. The following resources were used by both staff and participants during the programme:

• Mapping the Heritage of Gleann Cholm Cille Parish: A website built as part of a separate local project which aimed to map oral history and placenames using digital technology.
• www.logainm.ie: National Database of Irish-language Placenames.
• www.duchas.ie: University College Dublin Folklore Collection digitization project.
• www.teanglann.ie: Digital database of Irish dictionaries.
• ITMA: The Irish Traditional Music Archive digital collection. 
• Google Earth, Google Maps.