Tampines Vista Secondary School, Singapore

Abstract: Traditional physics instruction in Singapore secondary schools often emphasizes algorithmic problem-solving and examination preparation, leaving many students struggling to connect physics concepts to real-world phenomena and develop genuine inquiry skills. This study proposes an AI-Scaffolded Authentic Inquiry (AI-SAI) instructional design model that integrates authentic, locally relevant physics phenomena with artificial intelligence tools to support and enhance inquiry-based learning. The model was implemented in a Secondary 3 "Forces and Motion" unit at Tampines Vista Secondary School, with two intact classes (n=76) serving as experimental and control groups over a 10-week period. The experimental group received AI-SAI instruction, while the control group followed traditional teacher-centered teaching. Quantitative data from pre- and post-tests, inquiry skills assessments, and attitude surveys were collected, supplemented by qualitative data from classroom observations and student interviews. Results indicate that the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in both academic achievement (t=4.12, p<.001) and scientific inquiry skills (t=5.34, p<.001), particularly in hypothesis formulation, data analysis, and evidence-based reasoning. Students in the experimental group also showed more positive attitudes toward physics learning and greater ability to apply physics knowledge to real-world situations in the Singapore context. The study suggests that carefully designed AI scaffolding can effectively support authentic inquiry learning, reducing the cognitive load associated with open-ended investigation while maintaining the intellectual rigor of scientific inquiry. Practical implications for frontline physics teachers in Singapore are discussed, along with suggestions for future research on AI integration in science education.

Keywords: authentic inquiry; artificial intelligence; scaffolding; secondary physics; forces and motion; Singapore education