How to use image interpretation scaffolds in history classrooms

Abstract

Images, particularly photographs, are ubiquitous in history education, offering opportunities for fostering historical reasoning. However, adolescents often engage with images passively and superficially, rather than thoroughly and critically examining them. This article introduces two image interpretation scaffolds – sequenced and flexible – that can support adolescent students in the analysis and interpretation of visual historical sources. Connecting integration of the scaffolds to didactical frameworks, this overview discusses how they can promote active inquiry and critical reasoning. Further, this article shows the complementary role of internet search and AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) in fostering deeper engagement during the analysis and interpretation with the scaffolds. Practical recommendations are provided for history educators to use the sequenced and flexible image interpretation scaffolds effectively, enabling students to view reasoning about and with images not merely as a passive process but as an active inquiry of the past.