Investigating the Impact of Code Generation Tools (ChatGPT & Github CoPilot) on Programming Education

Faisal Nizamudeen, Lorenzo Gatti, Nacir Bouali, Faizan Ahmed

2024

Abstract

In our rapidly evolving technological landscape, AI tools have gained substantial power and integration across various domains. Through interviews and surveys conducted at a University in the Netherlands, we investigated students’ perceptions of AI tools. Our results show that students generally have a positive attitude towards the adoption of AI technologies and feel that it enhances their learning experience. Furthermore, this research project examines the capabilities of AI-powered tools, namely GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT, in solving a variety of university-level assignments. By empirically evaluating the capabilities of these AI tools and offering insights to educators, this research project aims to assist them in designing programming exercises that encompass essential learning processes while accounting for students’ utilization of AI tools. The findings indicate that a majority of the exercises currently utilized by the examined university could be solved partially or entirely with the aid of these tools. This project highlights the importance of educators understanding the capabilities of AI tools, as well as students’ attitudes towards them, to effectively adapt their teaching methods and promote essential learning goals.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Nizamudeen F., Gatti L., Bouali N. and Ahmed F. (2024). Investigating the Impact of Code Generation Tools (ChatGPT & Github CoPilot) on Programming Education. In Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 2: CSEDU; ISBN 978-989-758-697-2, SciTePress, pages 221-229. DOI: 10.5220/0012628000003693

in Bibtex Style

@conference{csedu24,
author={Faisal Nizamudeen and Lorenzo Gatti and Nacir Bouali and Faizan Ahmed},
title={Investigating the Impact of Code Generation Tools (ChatGPT & Github CoPilot) on Programming Education},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 2: CSEDU},
year={2024},
pages={221-229},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0012628000003693},
isbn={978-989-758-697-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 2: CSEDU
TI - Investigating the Impact of Code Generation Tools (ChatGPT & Github CoPilot) on Programming Education
SN - 978-989-758-697-2
AU - Nizamudeen F.
AU - Gatti L.
AU - Bouali N.
AU - Ahmed F.
PY - 2024
SP - 221
EP - 229
DO - 10.5220/0012628000003693
PB - SciTePress