Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of education, yet its potential in restoration education has remained largely unexplored.
This research investigates how various artificial intelligence tools intersect with the teaching and learning of restoration at the university level.
Drawing on three major learning theories—experiential, constructivist, and connectivist—the study analyzes research from recent years to determine where AI aligns with or departs from effective pedagogical practices. The findings show that AI-driven technologies can significantly
strengthen concrete experience, active learning, social interaction, and prior knowledge integration which are associated with experiential and
constructivist learning, and also lifelong learning, technological facilitation, networking and communication, cognitive skills, and digital collaboration in connectivist. However, certain aspects, particularly those requiring in-depth contextual and textual understanding specific to heritage sites, present ongoing challenges for AI tools. These results provide valuable insights for educators and researchers seeking to implement AI solutions in restoration-related courses.

Coins are among the most significant archaeological and historical data, which—beyond their economic value-can play a crucial role in resolving historical ambiguities, understanding economic conditions, political structures, and even trade and cultural relations of the studied period. Through systematic analysis, coins also provide precise scientific information regarding production processes and the technological capabilities embedded in their structure. Among these, gold coins hold a special status due to their high material value, durability, and resistance to corrosion.
During the Ilkhanid period-one of the most pivotal historical eras in Iran-this study aims to conduct detailed and systematic field, laboratory, and archaeometric investigations on three selected samples from a collection of 105 gold coins attributed to Sultan Abu Sa'id Bahadur, discovered in the Jameh Mosque of Tabriz and currently housed in the National Museum of Iran. To authenticate the historical identity of the samples, the external surface of the coins was first examined through documentation procedures including weighing, dimensional measurements, and photography. Iconographic and epigraphic readings were conducted to identify minting details and inscriptions. The coins under study date back to the reign of Abu Sa'id Bahadur (716–736 AH), with minting dates ranging from 724 to 729 AH. Weight measurements revealed that the coins deviate from the standard weight norms of the period. Surface analysis showed that the coins fall into the category of geometrically patterned coins. Two samples (Registry Nos. 12530 and 12546) feature common circular and square-in-circle motifs. The third sample (Registry No. 12544) displays an innovative design with a Quranic verse (Surah 2:137) inscribed around the edge, framed in a mihrab-like structure, along with the names of the four Sunni caliphs—emphasizing religious themes. The reverse side features an octagonal geometric pattern filled with Quranic phrases, with inscriptions referring to victory over enemies. Table 1 presents detailed information on the minting location, date, weight, imagery, and design of the three studied coins. In the second phase, elemental analysis was conducted to obtain microstructural and chemical composition data. Given the importance of non-destructive laboratory methods for identifying the elemental structure of coin metals, PIXE (Proton-Induced X-ray Emission) was employed. This powerful technique enables the detection of major and trace elements as well as impurities. PIXE allows for high-resolution analysis of microstructures and is capable of identifying a wide range of elements from sodium to uranium under optimal conditions. However, like XRF, its main limitation is surface -level analysis.
Since impurity levels significantly affect the purity grade of gold coins, the elemental composition of the samples was analyzed, and the results were interpreted based on the concentration of metallic impurities. Statistical analysis focused on purity variations across coins from three different mints. PIXE utilizes micron-scale proton beams for high-precision, multi-elemental analysis. Under suitable conditions, the minimum detectable concentration ranges from 0.01 ppm to 11 ppm. Although PIXE offers deeper analytical penetration (up to several millimeters with high-energy protons), its standard depth (~70 microns) is generally less than that of XRF (~100 microns). Corrosion and sample heterogeneity may introduce uncertainty in elemental analysis, especially in copper or bronze coins.
The three coin samples were analyzed using the accelerator and endograph facilities at the Physics and Accelerator Research Center of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The elemental composition of major and minor elements-including Fe, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Al, Si, K, Ca, and Ti—was determined with a precision range of 10-100 ppm. Based on the obtained data, the primary microstructure, purity level, and the highest impurity concentrations among the samples were identified. Following the acquisition of analytical data, quantitative analysis of major and minor elements, microstructures, and impurities was performed. Impurity elements were statistically processed using SPSS software through descriptive and inferential methods. To ensure high accuracy, differences in descriptive indices were evaluated using post-hoc tests such as Tukey’s test. The final results are based on impurity concentration data and provide valuable insights into the metallurgical composition and purity of the studied coins.

This paper analyzes the evolution of the undergraduate curriculum in historic monuments restoration in Iran, from its initial approval in 1985
to its comprehensive revision in 2022. Adopting an analytical-comparative approach, the study first explores the theoretical, historical, and practical contexts of the discipline's emergence within Iran's higher education system. It then provides a structural and content-based critique
of the earlier curriculum. The findings reveal that the original curriculum, which emphasized religious principles, cultural heritage, and basic technical training, gradually became less effective due to scientific developments, shifting field requirements, and the rise of new technologies. The 2018 revision resulted from a collaborative effort by university scholars and restoration professionals aiming to modernize the program, enhance practical training, eliminate redundant courses, add applied content, and align the curriculum with international standards. Key features of the revised curriculum include a purposeful reduction in course units, content standardization, improved integration of theoretical and practical learning, and a focus on technological competencies. Furthermore, the paper addresses the implementation challenges and resource shortages of the previous curriculum and proposes strategies to enhance the quality and efficiency of restoration education. Overall, this study emphasizes the necessity of dynamic educational planning, underlines the critical role of restoration in preserving cultural identity and strengthening social capital, and provides a framework for future curriculum reforms in the field of conservation of cultural and historical artifacts.

Heritage conservation education requires a balance between theoretical foundations and practical competencies. Traditional lecture-based
instruction, while effective for content delivery, often fails to cultivate the problem-solving, creativity, and collaborative skills necessary for
professional conservation practice. This study investigates the application of problem-based learning (PBL), grounded in constructivist pedagogy,
within a course titled Conservation Practices. Grounded in action research methodology, the study combines theoretical analysis of constructivist principles with empirical evaluation of PBL’s efficacy. Over a semester, students worked in teams or single to address real conservation dilemmas, mirroring the complexities they would encounter in professional practice. Data was collected through structured reflections and post-course surveys from a purposively selected cohort of 21 graduates who completed the training. Qualitative feedback was analyzed using MAXQDA software to identify emergent themes, including skill development, confidence in decision-making, and perceived relevance of the pedagogical approach. The findings demonstrate that PBL enhanced students’ technical proficiency, critical thinking, decision-making confidence, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Thematic analysis confirmed strong alignment between PBL and constructivist outcomes, particularly adaptive expertise and metacognitive awareness.

Historic bridges represent complex structural systems that have endured centuries of environmental exposure, functional transformation, and human intervention. Due to their structural configuration and location within dynamic riverine contexts, they are particularly vulnerable to natural forces, material decay, and incompatible repairs. Conservation doctrine has consistently emphasized that intervention must be grounded in knowledge. Documents such as the Venice Charter, the Burra Charter, the Nara Document on Authenticity, and the ICOMOS Principles for the Analysis and Restoration of Architectural Heritage stress that understanding a monument’s historical development, material composition, and structural performance is essential before any action is taken. Building on this understanding, the present study develops and applies an integrated damage diagnosis approach to the historic Bridge-Dam of Izadkhast. Although Iranian historic bridges have been widely studied, previous research has often addressed historical interpretation, qualitative assessment, and structural modeling separately. In many instances, laboratory testing and structural calculations were treated as isolated technical exercises rather than as components of conservation decision making. This separation has occasionally led to reinforcement strategies that exceed actual structural needs and conflict with principles such as minimal intervention and respect for authenticity. The principal research gap therefore lies in the absence of a coherent methodological framework that integrates historical studies, qualitative damage assessment, laboratory material testing, and quantitative structural behavior analysis into a unified and conservation oriented decision making model. The Izadkhast Bridge-Dam was selected as the case study because of its historical and structural importance. Located along the Historic route from Isfahan to Shiraz via Izadkhast, it once played a strategic role in regional communication and maintained a functional relationship with the nearby caravanserai. Built across a seasonal river prone to flooding, the structure was originally designed to serve caravan traffic. In later periods, however, the passage of automobiles and heavier transport introduced load conditions that had not been anticipated in the original architectural conception. As a result, the bridge was subjected to stresses exceeding its intended structural capacity. Despite these pressures, it remained functional for centuries. Only in recent decades have climatic variability, renewed water flow after extended drought, inappropriate restoration efforts, and insufficient river management significantly increased its vulnerability. The methodology adopted in this research consisted of six interconnected stages: (1) historical analysis and investigation of the structural evolution of the monument; (2) direct observation and qualitative assessment of the current condition; (3) qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of mortars and qualitative assessment of materials; (4) structural analysis and evaluation of the overall structural behavior; (5) safety assessment through quantitative analyses and structural testing; and (6) final judgment and data integration. In this method, Laboratory investigations were conducted to determine the physical and chemical properties of mortars and bricks, and structural behavior under gravity, seismic forces, wind, and hydraulic actions was analyzed through finite element modeling using ANSYS software. The findings demonstrate that a comprehensive understanding of the monument requires the simultaneous interpretation of historical documentation, field evidence, material characteristics, and structural modeling results. Historical analysis revealed that major damage resulted from changes in function, excessive loading beyond traditional use patterns, destructive floods particularly the flood of 1956 CE. and alterations in river morphology caused by human intervention. Qualitative assessment identified inconsistencies in restoration management, incomplete conservation measures, deterioration of mortars, and neglect of riverbed maintenance as significant contributors to the bridge’s current condition. Material analyses indicated that lime mortars (cold sarooj) were intentionally employed in water exposed sections, while gypsum–lime mortars were used in arches and passageways, reflecting functional adaptation to environmental conditions. Although bricks quality was relatively low due to manufacturing and firing limitations, this characteristic forms part of the bridge’s original material system and does not in itself indicate structural weakness. Structural analyses showed that the bridge performs satisfactorily under gravitational and seismic loads. The vulnerable structural points was identified in relation to hydrodynamic flood forces and at the junction between the end piers and the natural riverbanks.
The integratetion of the obtained results indicate that most observed damages do not stem from inherent structural vulnerability, but rather from the disruption of the bridge’s historical equilibrium. Changes in functional loads, incompatible restoration materials, interruption of structural continuity, and hydromorphological alterations in the riverbed have collectively intensified deterioration. Numerical modeling confirmed that heavy structural reinforcement or radical alteration of the structural system is unnecessary. Instead, conservation efforts should focus on correcting inappropriate past restorations, locally reinforcing critical points, stabilizing and organizing the riverbed and establishing a continuous maintenance system. This study demonstrates that that quantitative structural analysis can meaningfully inform conservation decisions only when interpreted in direct connection with historical understanding and material characterization. Detached numerical assessments risk misdiagnosis and unnecessary intervention. Accordingly, the research advocates a shift from reactive, episodic restoration toward preventive and integrated management of historic bridges. Ultimately, this research proposes a transferable analytical framework for the conservation of historic bridges in Iran and comparable contexts. By integrating historical research, qualitative damage assessment, laboratory based material evaluation, structural stability assessment, and finite element analysis into a unified diagnostic process, the study provides a methodological model that supports minimal, authenticity compatible, and scientifically grounded conservation strategies, while preventing costly and irreversible interventions.