Using AI-based exercises to enhance the effectiveness of pre-lab preparation in intro-physics laboratories

Typical ancillary materials associated with introductory physics laboratories include pre-lab materials. These prepare the students for the respective lab by introducing them to the apparatus and the science behind the experiment, and integrate the lab unit into the general goals and outcomes of the course. At Penn State Scranton, students are expected to put significant work into the pre-lab preparation by reading extensively and solving quizzes. To modernize and improve the pedagogical effectiveness of pre-lab materials, we developed a series of exercises designed to pair the students with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tutors, illustrated here by a few examples to be implemented in a calculus-based intro course of classical mechanics. We show how one can avoid the problem-solving limitations of the machine by instructing the student to employ the AI as a generator of mockup versions of the lab apparatus and analytical idea.