Victoria Peak International College, The Peak, Hong Kong SAR, China

Abstract: Senior high school physics education faces persistent challenges, including the abstract nature of physics concepts, limited laboratory resources and time, the difficulty of connecting classroom learning to real-world applications, and the growing diversity of student backgrounds and abilities. Traditional lecture-based and formula-centered approaches often fail to foster deep conceptual understanding, scientific inquiry skills, and genuine interest in physics. Digital technologies and artificial intelligence offer promising new possibilities for addressing these challenges through immersive, interactive, and personalized learning experiences. This paper presents the design and implementation of an AI-Enhanced Three-Dimensional Physics Learning (AI-3DP) ecosystem for senior high school physics education. The ecosystem integrates artificial intelligence, virtual simulations, real-world data, and learning analytics to create a comprehensive three-dimensional learning experience that addresses conceptual understanding, experimental inquiry, and real-world application. The AI-3DP ecosystem features three interconnected dimensions—Conceptual Understanding, Experimental Inquiry, and Real-World Application—supported by five core components: AI Concept Constructor, Virtual Experiment Lab, Real-World Physics Connector, Adaptive Assessment & Feedback, and Teacher Insight Dashboard. Artificial intelligence serves as the "physics learning companion" that provides personalized scaffolding, adaptive feedback, and intelligent guidance across all three dimensions. The ecosystem was implemented with 96 Grade 11 students at Victoria Peak International College in Hong Kong over a 14-week "Electricity and Magnetism" unit. Results indicate significant improvements in conceptual understanding (d = 0.91), experimental inquiry skills (d = 0.95), and problem-solving abilities (d = 0.88), with particularly large improvements in physics interest and motivation (d = 1.03). Students reported high levels of engagement and appreciation for the interactive, real-world connected approach, with 92% expressing that the ecosystem made physics more interesting and relevant. Teachers noted that the ecosystem helped reduce the achievement gap, improved laboratory learning efficiency, and enabled more effective differentiation. The study contributes to the growing body of research on technology-enhanced physics education and offers practical implications for educators seeking to leverage digital technologies and artificial intelligence to transform physics teaching and learning.

Keywords: AI in education; physics education; virtual laboratories; three-dimensional learning; STEM education; educational technology; senior high school