Visualizing the Solar System with Generative AI: Development and Formative Evaluation of Interactive Multimedia for Lower Secondary Science

The solar system is an abstract topic that lower secondary learners often find difficult, and generative artificial intelligence (AI) now allows teachers to author rich multimedia without programming. This study developed an interactive multimedia package on the solar system for Grade VII science and formatively evaluated how learners received it. Following the ADDIE model, the authors used Canva, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Pippit AI to produce interactive slides, explanatory texts, quiz items, and narrated videos, hosted a gamified quiz on Wayground, and checked all content during finalization. In a small group trial at an early development stage, five Grade VII learners rated 20 statements on a four point scale covering display, content, interactivity, benefit, and ease of use. The overall mean was 3.41 (85.25% of the maximum score), and no learner disagreed with any statement. Display received the highest rating (M = 3.65) and interactivity the lowest (M = 3.20). These results indicated preliminary learner acceptance rather than learning effectiveness. The study documented a transparent workflow for AI supported authoring and identified expert validation, manipulable simulations, and controlled trials with larger samples as priorities for the next cycle.