Xiaolong Diao

DOI: http://doi.org/10.4208/itl.20260105

Innovative Teaching and Learning, Vol. 8 (2026), Iss. 1 : pp. 50–88

Published online:    2026-5

Abstract

This study investigates the integration of generative AI in history education, combining empirical analysis with innovative pedagogical interventions to improve student engagement and historical thinking. Using a mixed-methods design with survey data from approximately 60 university students and three course-based case studies, it finds universal AI use among students and shows that strategic, pedagogy-led implementation can enhance learning outcomes. All participants reported using generative AI during the semester, with 70% indicating frequent use primarily for lecture comprehension and conceptual exploration, yet only 38% regularly verified AI outputs. Pedagogical innovations—including a Meiji Restoration complexity analysis, a tributary system social media simulation, and a comparative poetry translation exercise—transformed abstract concepts into interactive learning experiences, increasing engagement by 73% and perceived critical thinking development by 64%, while maintaining disciplinary rigor through structured AI literacy training. Grounded in social constructivist theory and recent AI literacy scholarship, the research demonstrates that generative AI can address persistent challenges in history education, including student disengagement, oversimplification of historical processes, and underdeveloped critical analysis skills. When AI is framed as a catalyst for inquiry rather than a source of answers, students develop deeper historical understanding alongside essential digital literacy competencies. The study offers empirical evidence and practical frameworks for educators seeking to harness AI’s potential while upholding the intellectual rigor of historical scholarship.

Keywords

generative Artificial Intelligence, history education, pedagogical innovation, student engagement, digital literacy, AI integration, educational technology, mixed-methods research

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