Alongside historical analysis, the course included critical reflection on digital tools and the ways we communicate academic knowledge today. One of are key questions was: can AI support not just research, but also Wissensvermittlung—making scholarship more accessible and engaging for wider audiences?
As a practical experiment, students formed seven small groups to research specific topics. Each group presented their findings in class, then developed them into short papers (5–7 pages, in German), which were peer-reviewed and revised.
In the next step, students submitted their revised texts to Wondercraft.ai, an AI tool that generates podcast-style episodes. We asked the AI to produce short (ca. 6-minute) podcasts in English and conversational, accessible tone. The resulting audios and scripts were then reviewed and the scripts revised and edited by the students to improve clarity, adjust tone, and ensure historical accuracy.
The outcome is a series of seven podcast episodes, each exploring a different facet of early modern magic and superstition. Host of the podcast is Anna and her guest is Adrian; both characters are fictional, including their voice. This project not only encouraged deeper engagement with the topic and strengthened students’ research and presentation skills but also invited reflection on the possibilities and limits of AI in academic contexts.
We hope these podcasts offer a captivating introduction to the fascinating world of early modern belief—and spark further conversations about how we engage with history through new media.
