Analysis of the educational potential of virtual museums and digital archives as tools for forming the historical worldview of youth

the article examines the multifaceted educational opportunities and didactic potential of digital memorial complexes and electronic document repositories in the context of the comprehensive development of the historical worldview of the younger generation. The processes of transformation of the educational paradigm, caused by the rapid digitalization of the cultural and information space, actualize the need for a critical rethinking of methodological approaches to historical education. Based on the socio-cultural situation of the Knyagininsky municipal district of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the authors identified key problems in the field of historical and local history education and proposed an innovative conceptual model for integrating digital tools into pedagogical practice, taking into account the cognitive characteristics of the modern youth audience. Exponential acceleration of information processes in modern reality, accompanied by a fundamental reconstruction of the mechanisms of transmission of cultural and historical heritage between generations, inevitably gives rise to a methodological crisis in the field of historical education. This problem is especially acute in provincial urban centers and agricultural territories, where there is a paradoxical combination of authentic local history material with a deficit of innovative pedagogical tools for its actualization. A sociological study carried out on the territory of the Knyagininsky District convincingly demonstrates the presence of a cognitive gap between the information wealth of local history and its mental representation in the consciousness of young residents of the region. The research methodology is based on a multi-level integration of a system-activity paradigm that emphasizes the active position of the subject of cognition, with an axiological approach that allows interpreting the development of historical material through the prism of value dominants. The methodology provided a theoretical foundation for the conceptualization of electronic museum spaces and digital archival collections as multifunctional tools for the formation of meta-subject educational results. The empirical basis of the research program is constituted by: quantitative data of a large-scale survey of 350 respondents from the youth cohort of the municipality; qualitative materials of expert interviews with representatives of the pedagogical community and specialists in the field of regional studies; results of a detailed content analysis of existing electronic museum expositions and digitized archival funds. These research results can be useful for constructing an effective system of historical education in small towns and rural areas. A comprehensive analysis of the educational infrastructure of the Knyagininsky District revealed serious dysfunctions in the mechanisms of transmitting historical knowledge, caused by the prevalence of archaic forms of presenting local history material that do not correspond to the cognitive patterns of information perception by a modern youth audience. Among the key negative factors, respondents identified: dominance of traditional formats of historiographic representation (68%); limited availability of documentary materials (53%); insufficient use of information and communication technologies (71%); deficit of interactive mechanisms of interaction with historical artifacts (64%). The central scientific and practical result of the conducted research was the development of a multi-component model of the virtual local history complex "Knyagininskaya Chronicle", the architecture of which includes: an interactive historical map of the territory with chronological and thematic data filtering; a structured electronic repository of documentary sources; a biographical encyclopedia of outstanding personalities; immersive excursion routes; an educational portal with didactic materials; a communication platform for transgenerational dialogue. As a result of studying the educational potential of digital tools of historical education, the authors articulated theoretical provisions and practical recommendations for their integration into the pedagogical process. A differentiated approach to the use of electronic memorial complexes and digital document storage facilities involves taking into account the psycho-age characteristics of the target audience and the variability of formats of interaction with historical content: for younger schoolchildren, game-based mechanisms of cognition are optimal, for teenagers – problem-based research activities, for students – professionally oriented project practices. Experimental testing of the conceptual model elements within the framework of the project "Youth Remembers, Youth Honors" demonstrates a high level of interest of the target audience and a significant educational effect. Quantitative analytics of user activity on the beta version of the electronic platform records a stable interest in virtual excursion programs, archival photo documents, biographical materials and spatial visualizations of historical processes. Prospects for further evolution of the project are associated with scaling the content component through the digitalization of museum exhibits and archival funds, the development of interactive educational resources, the introduction of augmented reality technologies and integration with federal historical and cultural platforms.

virtual museum, digital archive, historical worldview, educational potential, digitalization of education, local history, historical memory, intergenerational dialogue, information and communication technologies