Preserving Local Heritage through History Education Digital Storytelling: Engaging Youth in Sabah’s Cultural Narratives

Abstract

This study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can empower rural learners in Sabah through an AI-enhanced history education intervention grounded in community-based practices. Rural schools in Sabah continue to face disparities in digital access, instructional quality, and engagement compared to urban counterparts, particularly in subjects like history that rely on contextual understanding and narrative depth. Drawing on recent empirical work in Sabah and broader AI-in-education research, this study proposes an intervention that integrates offline-capable AI tools, localized historical content, and community knowledge to enhance student learning outcomes and cultural relevance. Using a synthesis of credible online sources, the study examines how AI-supported instruction can improve engagement, critical thinking, and academic performance among rural learners. The findings aim to contribute to sustainable, inclusive educational innovation aligned with regional needs, highlighting the transformative potential of AI when adapted to low-resource environments and culturally responsive pedagogies.