Pilot Study on Student Public Opinion Regarding GAI

TL;DR

This pilot study explores university students' perceptions of generative AI in higher education, revealing challenges in engagement and emphasizing the need for larger studies to inform effective integration of GAI discussions in classrooms.

Contribution

It provides initial insights into student attitudes toward GAI in education and highlights methodological challenges in engaging students for research.

Findings

Low participation rate (~4.4%) highlights engagement challenges.

Students' perceptions vary, indicating diverse attitudes towards GAI.

The study underscores the importance of larger samples for reliable insights.

Abstract

The emergence of generative AI (GAI) has sparked diverse opinions regarding its appropriate use across various domains, including education. This pilot study investigates university students' perceptions of GAI in higher education classrooms, aiming to lay the groundwork for understanding these attitudes. With a participation rate of approximately 4.4%, the study highlights the challenges of engaging students in GAI-related research and underscores the need for larger sample sizes in future studies. By gaining insights into student perspectives, instructors can better prepare to integrate discussions of GAI into their classrooms, fostering informed and critical engagement with this transformative technology.