Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Learning of Newtonian Mechanics: A Didactic Intervention in First-Year Undergraduate Students

This article presents the preliminary effects of a didactic intervention based on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching Newtonian mechanics concepts to first-year students in the Bachelor of Physics Education program at the University of Guayaquil. This intervention corresponds to the first phase of a quasi-experimental study conducted during the May–August 2024 semester, involving two parallel groups: a control group using traditional peer instruction strategies, and an experimental group using AI-guided activities through a web-based platform supported by ChatGPT. Both groups underwent a diagnostic pre-test, which revealed similar levels of initial conceptual knowledge. Following a structured and differentiated teaching process, a post-test was applied to assess the intervention's impact. The results showed a significant improvement in the conceptual understanding of the experimental group compared to the control group. The findings suggest that integrating AI tools in the classroom can positively impact physics learning by helping students overcome alternative conceptions and fostering a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of classical mechanics. The study highlights the feasibility of using virtual assistants as a complementary resource in science higher education environments.