Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.

Timelines are basic tools for developing knowledge and understandings about chronology, providing the frameworks and contexts for historical enquiry. Information and Communications Technology [ICT ] offers a range of tools for viewing [and creating timelines, ranging in complexity from simple applications for making printed sheets to multilayered, multimedia websites, which take advantage of the interactive technologies that have become known as ‘Web 2.0'. Whatever their capabilities, all ICT -based applications offer the advantage of provisionality - timelines can be easily amended, altered and changed to correct errors or include new information. Online tools can also be used to share chronological knowledge with a wide audience.

Before considering software and applications for timeline creation, the capabilities and limitations of ICT -based timelines are best appreciated by taking a look at some ready-made examples...