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The Educational Advantages/Disadvantages of ChatGPT in Relation to Engineering Classes

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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

14

DOI

10.18260/1-2--46061

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/46061

Download Count

672

Paper Authors

biography

Claire Rogers Arizona State University, Polytechnic Campus

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Claire Rogers is a fourth-year student at Arizona State University studying Robotics Engineering. Her curiosity in ChatGPT and teaching led her to researching ChatGPT in the classroom.

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biography

Cecilia La Place Arizona State University, Polytechnic Campus Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-1913-6966

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Cecilia La Place is a fifth-year Ph.D. student at Arizona State University (ASU) studying Engineering Education Systems & Design. She has received her M.S./B.S. in Software Engineering through an accelerated program at ASU. She organizes, attends, and studies hackathons as informal learning environments that hold the potential to empower students of any and all backgrounds.

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Shawn S. Jordan Arizona State University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-1639-779X

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Shawn S. Jordan, Ph.D. is the Interim Director of the School of Integrated Engineering and an Associate Professor of Engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. He collaborates with communities to conduct use-inspired research fusing STEM with arts and cultures to create novel products, experiences, and outcomes that meet societal needs. He teaches context-centered electrical engineering and embedded systems design courses, and studies the use of context and storytelling in both K-12 and undergraduate engineering design education.

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Abstract

This study focused on the integration of ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI), into undergraduate education with a focus on its impact on an Embedded Systems Design Project course at a REDACTED university. Recognizing the rapid evolution of AI, ChatGPT could potentially empower students in the learning process. ChatGPT has the potential to serve as a resource for clarifying challenging concepts and brainstorming problem-solving strategies. The research questions that guided this study were (1) What factors enable or hinder the adoption of ChatGPT in embedded systems education contexts?, and (2) How can ChatGPT be best implemented in embedded systems education contexts? This research employed a structured intervention that integrated pre-planned activities that involved ChatGPT into the coursework. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through observations, surveys, and interviews, allowing for a review of the tool's impact on student learning. Students were given the opportunity to utilize ChatGPT for assignments, provided they reflected on their choice to use ChatGPT or not. Thematic analysis of the interviews and triangulation by additional data sources revealed key moments when students were driven to utilize ChatGPT. This work offers valuable insights into the potential adoption of ChatGPT in education and practical recommendations for its effective implementation in electrical and computer engineering coursework.

Rogers, C., & La Place, C., & Jordan, S. S. (2024, April), The Educational Advantages/Disadvantages of ChatGPT in Relation to Engineering Classes Paper presented at 2024 ASEE PSW Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada. 10.18260/1-2--46061

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