Machine Learning in the History Classroom: Using Artificial Intelligence for a Student-led Inquiry into Redlining

This project takes the first step toward adopting artificial intelligence (AI) as a teaching tool in high school history classrooms. We use AI modeling software as the basis of a social studies unit on redlining. This allows students to investigate patterns across primary source texts and gain a deeper understanding of the systemic nature of historical discrimination. Using AI software, students investigate a large set of primary source texts—rather than an individual text—and pull out historical patterns that are normally impossible for them to access within the constraints of a social studies classroom. Finally, this project offers the opportunity to leverage educational technologies to teach histories of discrimination.