Predict-Observe-Explain in AI Tutoring: Design Principles for Socratic Dialogue in Engineering Simulation Games

Socratic AI tutoring promises to transform educational technology from answer-giving systems to guided discovery companions. However, operationalizing Socratic dialogue in AI systems remains challenging, particularly for open-ended engineering design problems with multiple valid solutions. This paper proposes design principles for Socratic AI tutors grounded in the Predict-Observe-Explain (POE) pedagogical framework, demonstrating how this inquiry-based strategy naturally integrates with physics simulation for engineering education. Drawing from theoretical foundations (Vygotskian scaffolding, cognitive load theory, self-determination theory, constructivist productive failure) and empirical evidence on…