An Instructor's Lens into the Role of AI in Teaching Experimental Research via Gamification

Abstract

In higher education, while there's an emphasis on training students in diverse research methods and offering hands-on experimental research experience, traditional textbooks often miss real-world intricacies, especially with human subjects. Recently, gamified techniques using interactive narratives have emerged as a popular teaching tool, allowing students to design experiments within a storyline and gather real-world data. Despite their promise, challenges persist in conveying complex terminology, biases, and methods, and in seamlessly integrating research questions into these narratives. Additionally, ensuring aesthetic coherence and tracking variable manipulations add layers of complexity. With the advent of AI tools like feedback providers, question generators, and chatbots in classrooms, this paper, based on workshops and instructor interviews, seeks to outline the potential of AI in enhancing the teaching and learning experience of experimental research using interactive narratives.