How Novice Programmers Use and Experience ChatGPT when Solving Programming Exercises in an Introductory Course
Andreas Scholl, Natalie Kiesler

TL;DR
This study investigates how novice programming students at a German university use and perceive ChatGPT in solving introductory course exercises, providing insights into their usage patterns and attitudes towards AI assistance.
Contribution
It offers the first detailed analysis of students' actual use and perceptions of ChatGPT in an educational programming context, informing future teaching strategies.
Findings
Students frequently use ChatGPT for coding assistance.
Students perceive ChatGPT as a helpful learning tool.
Use patterns vary among students.
Abstract
This research paper contributes to the computing education research community's understanding of Generative AI (GenAI) in the context of introductory programming, and specifically, how students utilize related tools, such as ChatGPT. An increased understanding of students' use is mandatory for educators and higher education institutions, as GenAI is here to stay, and its performance is likely to improve rapidly in the near future. Learning about students' use patterns is not only crucial to support their learning, but to develop adequate forms of instruction and assessment. With the rapid advancement of AI, its broad availability, and ubiquitous presence in educational environments, elaborating how AI can enhance learning experiences, especially in courses such as introductory programming is important. To date, most studies have focused on the educator's perspective on GenAI, its…
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Taxonomy
TopicsOnline Learning and Analytics · Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education · Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning
