INTEGRATING DIGITAL HERITAGE INTO EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE : OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Background. The ongoing digital transformation of society is reshaping both the preservation of heritage and the practices of education. Digitized cultural heritage includes virtual museums, 3D reconstructions, gamified platforms, and online archives. These tools introduce new ways to engage with the past by enhancing access to heritage resources and enabling dynamic learning environments that support interpretive depth and inclusive participation. Education provides a key platform for integrating and evaluating these developments.Objective. To investigate how digitized heritage materials can be meaningfully incorporated into educational settings, and to assess their pedagogical value, implementation challenges, and ethical implications.Methods. The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of education, digital humanities, and heritage studies. Methods include critical literature review, interpretive analysis, and comparative reflection on current practices. Particular attention is given to immersive learning technologies, hybrid instructional formats, and teacher readiness.Results. Digitized heritage expands access to learning for diverse and remote audiences, fosters critical engagement withhistorical narratives, and supports multimodal, student-centered approaches. These formats support experiential explorationand critical learner engagement with historical content. However, they are only effective when supported by infrastructure,teacher training, and an awareness of representational ethics. The findings underscore the importance of balancing digital andtraditional approaches, especially in heritage education, where historical context and plural interpretation are essential.