Custom-built online waves module with simulations integrated with a chatbot

Design · All designs
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

A 10-page extra-credit online activity on wave concepts, built for a large-enrollment calculus-based physics course for future engineers using the Matter and Interactions textbook. Each content page presented "an interactive simulation and followed by four questions", with a chatbot integrated throughout. The first page collected anticipated chatbot preferences among three options, and the last page collected student ID, a 5-point activity rating, perceived learning, qualitative feedback, and retrospective reflections on content familiarity and chatbot preferences. Estimated completion time was around 30-45 minutes.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Administered as an extra-credit activity with students informed it was not part of course assessment, to encourage honest participation

Constraints

• The module covered waves because the topic was not covered in the host course

Target Learners

• introductory calculus-based physics students for future engineers

Learning Goals

• wave concepts not covered in the host course

Claims

• Most introductory physics students preferred a combination chatbot (guidance first, answers when stuck), while few preferred pure guided Q&A [+W]

Related Designs

• Non-generative AI academic chatbot with TA-supported knowledge base and #quizme practice function
• Combining visual demonstrations, guided inquiry, computational-model manipulation, and group discussion to teach cutting-edge science concepts
• Three-phase Gen AI-assisted problem-posing activity with pre-training, training video, and post-training reflections
• Scaffolding-perspective comparison of chatbots and search engines as technological scaffolds for problem posing

Examples

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Key Sources

• Amogh Sirnoorkar and Omkar Mamidpalliwar. (2026). Students' Epistemological Beliefs and their Chatbot Preferences in AI-mediated Physics Learning. https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.29385

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	waves-module-simulations-integrated-chatbot
title	Custom-built online waves module with simulations integrated with a chatbot
description	A 10-page extra-credit online activity on wave concepts, built for a large-enrollment calculus-based physics course for future engineers using the Matter and Interactions textbook.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-11
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — amogh-sirnoorkar-and-omkar-mamidpalliwar-2026

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