The Evolving Usage of GenAI by Computing Students

TL;DR

This study examines how computing students' use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has evolved over two years, showing increased adoption but decreased daily usage, reflecting changing help-seeking behaviors.

Contribution

It provides empirical data on the shifting patterns of GenAI usage among computing students across North America over two years.

Findings

ChatGPT usage increased significantly from 2023 to 2024.

Students now rank ChatGPT as a primary help resource.

Overall daily and hourly usage of GenAI tools declined.

Abstract

Help-seeking is a critical aspect of learning and problem-solving for computing students. Recent research has shown that many students are aware of generative AI (GenAI) tools; however, there are gaps in the extent and effectiveness of how students use them. With over two years of widespread GenAI usage, it is crucial to understand whether students' help-seeking behaviors with these tools have evolved and how. This paper presents findings from a repeated cross-sectional survey conducted among computing students across North American universities (n=95). Our results indicate shifts in GenAI usage patterns. In 2023, 34.1% of students (n=47) reported never using ChatGPT for help, ranking it fourth after online searches, peer support, and class forums. By 2024, this figure dropped sharply to 6.3% (n=48), with ChatGPT nearly matching online search as the most commonly used help resource. Despite this growing prevalence, there has been a decline in students' hourly and daily usage of GenAI tools, which may be attributed to a common tendency to underestimate usage frequency. These findings offer new insights into the evolving role of GenAI in computing education, highlighting its increasing acceptance and solidifying its position as a key help resource.