what do you see as the main areas of potential in the use of internet research
... One of the most interesting developments to arise from this process of technological evolution has been the development of the Internet, or ‘the web’, as it has been known. In simple terms the Internet acts as a window on the world through your computer (hence Bill Gates suitably named ‘windows’ operating system). The Internet is a way of linking computers across the world through telephone lines so that anyone, anywhere in the world can create or view millions of websites on a wide range of subjects – education, health, shopping – the list is endless. ... As we can clearly see, the Internet can be a valuable resource, but in this essay we are primarily concerned with its use and main areas of potential with reference to the study of Irish history and politics. In order to complete our task we must look at some of the websites that are available on the Internet that are of use to those studying Irish history and politics, so that we may identify what the main areas of potential could be. There is however one major factor that we have to bear in mind when looking at sites about Irish history and politics on the Internet – it is not known as ‘the web’ for nothing, and it is easy to get tangled up with biased information. Anyone can have a site on the Internet and can publish anything they wish, true or untrue. ... The first major and most obvious area of potential in the use of the Internet to research Irish history and politics is the educational potential it possesses. ... Employment is largely geared towards the use of computers and new technology and students started to reflect this in their subject choices both at secondary school and third level education. ... This is an area were the potential of the Internet for research on Irish history politics has yet to be fully realised. When talking about the proposed overhaul of the history curriculum, Dermott Keogh states that “a lot will depend on how it is taught and what resources – textbooks, sources collections, computer and Internet resources – that schools, teachers and students have at their disposal”. The Irish government is now starting to realise the potential of the Internet in schools and colleges in Ireland, which can only be beneficial to those studying Irish history and politics. ... This programme aims to equip schools with the technology to access the Internet for student research.