How can history feel alive, relevant, and connected to young people’s realities today? This question guided our NECE Campus session titled, “HistoriCall: A New Way to Teach European History,” featuring Florian Tuder, Formal Learning Officer at the House of European History (HEH) in Brussels.

A digital toolbox for the classroom

Developed with input from over 1,000 teachers across 22 countries, HistoriCall brings the European story into the digital age — without sacrificing complexity or nuance. Available in 24 EU languages and free of charge, the tool offers a critical approach to learning rooted in storytelling and inquiry-based learning.

Currently, HistoriCall includes two interactive modules for students aged 14 to 18:

• EU Pioneers, which introduces nine key figures behind European integration through reimagined “social media profiles” that students can explore; and

• Timeline of the European Union, a six-minute animated overview of Europe’s integration process, followed by a quiz and discussion prompts.

Two more modules — Trust or Trash? Media Literacy for Critical Thinkers and What Is Racism? — are in development and will launch in April 2026.

From Jean Monnet to Simone Veil — learning through stories

In the EU Pioneers module, students encounter figures like Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, and Simone Veil as people with relatable life stories. Each pioneer has a profile featuring images, short texts, videos, and peer “comments” from other historical figures. The idea is to make history feel personal, interactive, and dialogical.

Students are guided by three simple questions:

1. Why might this person matter to me?
2. Why might this person matter to my community?
3. Why might this person matter to the world?

These prompts slow down the pace of digital interaction and encourage reflection. As Florian Tuder explained, “You can’t doom-scroll through history on HistoriCall — it’s technically impossible.”

After exploring, students create their own posts within the learning environment, imagining what historical figures might say about current issues such as the war in Ukraine. Teachers can view all student responses in an anonymised and secure back-end, ensuring privacy while fostering classroom dialogue.

Building critical and creative thinking

The discussion also touched on the flexibility of the tool. Educators can use HistoriCall as a standalone lesson plan or as a complement to national curricula. Some teachers use the short timeline video as an introduction to European integration, while others base multiple lessons around the pioneers module.

Teachers involved in testing praised how the platform balances creativity with substance. Florian Tuder shared that students often surprise educators with their originality — one class, for example, created a Tinder profile for EU pioneer Joseph Bech, describing him humorously as a “good catch” for his commitment to European values.

Looking ahead

The House of European History continues to expand its digital education offer. Upcoming modules will help students understand bias, stereotypes, and power in media, and explore the historical roots of racism and colonialism. Teachers interested in testing future materials are invited to participate in pilot sessions.

Educators can explore HistoriCall here and subscribe to the House of European History’s educational newsletter for updates on new releases and workshops.