The digital transformation of higher education presents both challenges and opportunities, particularly in fields that require strong practical and observational skills such as Botany. Since 2022, a series of educational innovation projects have explored the integration of digital tools based on artificial intelligence and citizen science to enhance botanical learning across a range of university courses.

This communication highlights the benefits of incorporating the iNaturalist platform into undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in diverse areas as botany, plant biogeography, riparian and wetland vegetation, and urban forestry. Across multiple cohorts, the initial experiences of use of iNaturalist have focused on core botanical subjects. Pre- and post-activity surveys demonstrate high levels of student engagement, increased motivation, and improved learning outcomes. iNaturalist has proven especially valuable for students with limited prior training in plant systematics, combining classical species identification methods—such as keys and guides—with AI-powered suggestions to assist users effectively and enabling real-time collaboration with a global community of experts.

Students have collectively generated thousands of botanical observations, enriching both their own learning experiences and contributing data to global scientific databases. The initiative has also fostered collaboration between universities and participation in large-scale citizen science events, strengthening networks and promoting the visibility of botanical knowledge in society.

The teaching model developed emphasizes active exploration, autonomous research, and adaptability to diverse educational contexts—both in-person and online. This approach is highly transferable to other disciplines and aligns with the evolving challenges of higher education. The results underscore the transformative potential of iNaturalist and similar digital tools for practical botanical education and for advancing innovation in higher education teaching.

Keywords: Botanical education, iNaturalist, artificial intelligence, citizen science, university teaching innovation, practical skills, observational skills.