To explore university students' perceptions of generative AI technologies (like ChatGPT) in higher education, focusing on their familiarity, willingness to engage, potential benefits, and challenges.
Methods:
- Survey of 399 undergraduate and postgraduate students from various disciplines in Hong Kong
- Mix of closed-ended and open-ended questions
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis of responses
Key Findings:
- Students showed good understanding of GenAI technologies and their limitations
- Generally positive attitude towards GenAI in teaching and learning
- Identified benefits: personalized learning support, writing assistance, research support
- Main concerns: accuracy, privacy, ethical issues, impact on personal development
- Higher frequency of GenAI use correlated with more positive perceptions
Implications:
- Helps educators and policymakers understand how to integrate GenAI effectively
- Suggests need for institutional policies and guidelines
- Highlights importance of developing AI literacy among students
- Indicates need for balanced approach in implementing GenAI
Limitations:
- Relatively small sample size
- Reliance on self-reported data
- Cross-sectional design limiting temporal insights
- Limited exposure to GenAI in formal academic settings
- Sample limited to Hong Kong universities
Future Directions:
- Examine larger, more diverse samples
- Conduct longitudinal studies tracking perception changes
- Explore specific disciplinary contexts
- Investigate relationship between GenAI use and learning outcomes
- Study AI literacy across different demographic groups
Title and Authors: "Students' voices on generative AI: perceptions, benefits, and challenges in higher education" by Cecilia Ka Yuk Chan and Wenjie Hu
Published On: 2023
Published By: International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education