Insights from the Frontline: GenAI Utilization Among Software Engineering Students

Rudrajit Choudhuri, Ambareesh Ramakrishnan, Amreeta Chatterjee, Bianca Trinkenreich, Igor Steinmacher, Marco Gerosa, Anita Sarma

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Generative AI (genAI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot) have become ubiquitous in software engineering (SE). As SE educators, it behooves us to understand the consequences of genAI usage among SE students and to create a holistic view of where these tools can be successfully used. Through 16 reflective interviews with SE students, we explored their academic experiences of using genAI tools to complement SE learning and implementations. We uncover the contexts where these tools are helpful and where they pose challenges, along with examining why these challenges arise and how they impact students. We validated our findings through member checking and triangulation with instructors. Our findings provide practical considerations of where and why genAI should (not) be used in the context of supporting SE students.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2025 IEEE/ACM 37th International Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training, CSEE and T 2025
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1-12
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9798331537098
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025
Event37th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training, CSEE and T 2025 - Ottawa, Canada
Duration: Apr 28 2025Apr 29 2025

Publication series

NameSoftware Engineering Education Conference, Proceedings
ISSN (Print)1093-0175

Conference

Conference37th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training, CSEE and T 2025
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityOttawa
Period4/28/254/29/25

Keywords

  • Challenges and Benefits
  • Empirical Study
  • Generative AI
  • Human-AI Interaction
  • Software Engineering Education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Education

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