The use of archival materials in the educational process as a means of forming empirical historical knowledge

Abstract

The relevance of the study lies in the growing need to introduce empirical approaches to historical education, where the processing of primary sources serves as a tool for fostering critical thinking and the ability to work with facts amid information overload. Archival materials play a crucial role in this process; however, fragmentation of digital platforms, methodological gaps, and a lack of teacher training continue to hinder their practical use. The article aims to substantiate the role of archival research in the formation of empirical historical thinking. The research methodology was based on a combination of source-based approaches, a comparative-analytical method, content analysis of modern educational practices, and the systematization of empirical data from scientific publications on historical and pedagogical topics. Results. It was found that systematic work with archival documents significantly enhances students' analytical skills, including their ability to formulate hypotheses, reconstruct events, and separate facts from interpretations. It was established that the digitization of archives and the introduction of hybrid learning formats expand the possibilities of using historical primary sources, but are accompanied by infrastructural, methodological and legal restrictions. The article identifies key methods and tools relevant to the educational environment and outlines the problems that hinder the full integration of archival pedagogy. The practical significance of the results lies in the proposed recommendations for creating archival literacy training modules, developing partnerships between archives and educational institutions, improving digital infrastructure, implementing research-oriented approaches and developing institutional policies for the responsible use of sources. Methodological generalizations on practical approaches to using archival sources can be applied in schools, universities, and the system of advanced teacher training.