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Investigating the Effects of ChatGPT on Student Learning in Programming Courses

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Conference

2024 ASEE PSW Conference

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada

Publication Date

April 18, 2024

Start Date

April 18, 2024

End Date

April 20, 2024

Page Count

28

DOI

10.18260/1-2--46048

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/46048

Download Count

203

Paper Authors

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Mehran Andalibi Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

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Mehran Andalibi is with Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with Ph.D. in Mechanical engineering in 2010 and has worked in the current institution since 2015.

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Heather Marriott Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott

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Professor Heather Marriott has been teaching at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for over 15 years. She teaches computer programming courses using the languages Python, MATLAB, C, and C++. Before coming to Embry-Riddle, Heather worked for ten years in industry.

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Oyku Eren Ozsoy Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott

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Luis Felipe Zapata-Rivera Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-8010-658X

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Dr. Luis Felipe Zapata-Rivera is an Assistant Professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He earned a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at Florida Atlantic University, in the past worked as an assistant researcher in the group of educational Technologies at Eafit University in Medellin, Colombia. His research area is the online Laboratories

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Sameer Abufardeh Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-9893-8923

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Abstract

Authors intend to follow up with a full paper. One of the latest developments impacting computer science education is the availability of high-quality generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools like ChatGPT. These tools provide a range of functionalities, such as code creation, debugging assistance, and optimization. From the students' perspective, these systems can be virtual tutoring aids that complement the learning process. From the educators’ perspective, the availability of AI tools necessitates adjustments to the course material and raises ethical concerns, primarily related to the potential for code plagiarism. Rather than disregarding or imposing prohibitive restrictions on these tools, our research group encouraged students to leverage AI tools to further their understanding of coursework. Instructors emphasized the importance of submitting original work and academic integrity to address ethical plagiarism concerns. To gauge the impact of AI tools on students' learning experiences, the group conducted a preliminary study to assess student perceptions and usage of ChatGPT utilizing a custom questionnaire. The initial study results showed that about half of the students had used ChatGPT before the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester. While consensus was not reached on questions concerning learning outcomes, material retention, and the impact on future job opportunities, there were significant agreements on certain aspects: ChatGPT cannot replace the need for in-person instruction and tutoring; code generated by ChatGPT is not always accurate; graded assignments should not be removed from the course assessment; AI platforms are helpful for challenging or selected class assignments; and requiring students to submit their original code alongside AI-generated code and/or flowcharts is beneficial.

Andalibi, M., & Marriott, H., & Eren Ozsoy, O., & Zapata-Rivera, L. F., & Abufardeh, S. (2024, April), Investigating the Effects of ChatGPT on Student Learning in Programming Courses Paper presented at 2024 ASEE PSW Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada. 10.18260/1-2--46048

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