Cultural heritage and educational web sites

ICT and Internet have identified new educational objects in an innovative and original way, in particular in the field of the recovery, preservation and knowledge of cultural heritage and art. The link between these two worlds led to a different way for learning and studying that reveals itself in projects where space and time vanish, giving rice to a new relationship between the individual and the culture. The "digital" world, offering many potentialities and chances, enters in museum bringing with him substantial changes allowing new experiences to life and perceive the exhibition places, making available the art products and stimulating interest, curiosity, imagination and emotions of the users. This is possible through the use of innovative ways to communicate with people using a more extensive advertising that can reach a wide audience and through the creation of attractive and smart websites that allow access to collections through interactive guided tours in all languages, consultation of databases, 3D reconstructions of environments, educational section dedicated to children and students, online meeting with experts and assistants. The paper describes an overview of the current state of the websites of the main Italian museums, archives and libraries that make available to users online information and learning resource. The study of these sites and their functionalities consent an analysis about methodological and pedagogical implications of the impact that ICT tools and the related educational models have on the Cultural Heritage Education; moreover it is an attempt to assess the applicability of ICT tools and methods in this sector. Finally, the contribution investigates how new technological tools can be used to create open access-museums for disabled people and which are the technological device and techniques necessary to develop appropriate frameworks and to outline the future directions to support Cultural Heritage.