Teaching History with AI: Leveraging AI and ChatGPT for Any History Unit

The way we teach history is evolving, with artificial intelligence becoming a game-changer in how students engage with the past. The use of AI, particularly the ChatGPT developed by OpenAI, offers students an unprecedented opportunity to interact directly with historical events and figures. How? By leveraging the power of AI to time travel or conduct one-on-one interviews with influential personalities from the past.

Unleashing the Power of AI in the History Classroom

The concept is simple but powerful. By leveraging ChatGPT, an AI language model, we can design interactive experiences where students "travel back in time". Here, they can converse with AI that assumes a historical identity, unlocking a unique, immersive exploration of historical events. But how exactly can teachers implement this in their classrooms?

Time Travel with AI

One powerful way to use AI in the history classroom is through a “time travel” activity. Students design an AI character who has experienced a historical event they are studying. They then prepare a series of questions and interact with their AI character, effectively ‘interviewing’ a figure from the past.

For example, imagine a class exploring the American Civil War. Students might choose the Battle of Gettysburg and create an AI character who was there — a soldier, a nurse, a journalist, or even a civilian living in the town. After researching their chosen event and character, students draft questions they would like to ask about the experience.

This approach allows students to interact directly with history, rather than simply absorbing information. By conversing with their AI character, they ask questions, probe deeper into the context of the event, and gain new insights into perspectives from the past.

Interview an...

Another engaging idea is to have students “interview” key figures from history. Here, the AI takes on the role of a specific person, such as a scientist, author, or leader, and students prepare questions to better understand their life and decisions.

Continuing with the Civil War example, students might interview President Abraham Lincoln or Confederate General Robert E. Lee. They could ask about the motivations behind their decisions, their views on leadership, or the challenges they faced during the war.

This type of activity helps students see historical figures as real people with complex experiences and perspectives. It builds empathy, deepens understanding, and transforms the study of history into an active, conversational process.

How I Create These Chatbot Experiences

When I first started experimenting with AI in the classroom, I needed a platform that would let me create the exact type of chatbot I wanted for my students — and then share it with them safely. That’s when I discovered AI Learning Lab.

It makes the whole process simple:

• I can design a chatbot to role-play as a historical figure or eyewitness.

• I can test it myself first, making sure it works the way I need.

• Then, with just a link or a PIN, I can share it instantly with my students.

The best part is that everything is built for classrooms. It’s safe, teacher-controlled, and quick enough that I can set up a chatbot the night before a lesson if I need to. This is the platform I use when I want to create immersive experiences like “time travel” interviews or AI role-plays in history lessons.

Click the logo to see for yourself.

Key Benefits of Using AI in Teaching History

• Deepens Understanding: AI-assisted dialogues allow students to grapple with complex historical concepts in a conversational and engaging manner.

• Enhances Engagement: The interactive nature of AI interviews and time travel scenarios capture students' attention, making learning more enjoyable.

• Develops Critical Thinking: The process encourages students to formulate thoughtful questions, analyze responses, and reflect on their learning.

To conclude, integrating AI and ChatGPT into your history lessons can revolutionize the learning experience for your students. By bringing history to life through interactive dialogue, AI has the potential to make history classes more engaging, impactful, and memorable.

Ready made resources

Ready to transform your history lessons? Explore the "Time Travel with AI" resource and the range of "Interview an..." resources today. It's time to inspire a love of history in your students like never before.