A Pilot Study on the Utilization of AI to Assist in Learning Java Programming

Abstract\u2014Contribution: This study investigates the use of AI to assist in teaching Java programming. It aims to enhance university lecturers' understanding of how to effectively incorporate AI as a teaching toolBackground: With advancements in AI technology, AI has been applied across various fields. However, as a rapidly evolving technology, its application requires careful study of the methods, advantages, and disadvantages involved. This is particularly important for using AI to assist in teaching programming which is a fundamental subject in computer science.    Intended Outcomes: The researcher expects that students have already begun using AI in their daily lives and studies but remain uncertain about the extent of its use. It is also anticipated that using AI will significantly enhance students\u2019 academic performance.   Application Design: This research is divided into two phases. Phase 1 surveys the behavior of 40 students using AI to assist in learning programming through questionnaires. Phase 2 examines the attitudes of 11 students using questionnaires and analyzes their academic performance data after using AI to assist in learning Java programming.   Findings: The results from the Phase 1 survey of 40 students indicate extensive use of AI in their every lives and a moderate level of utilization of AI to assist in learning Java programming. The Phase 2 survey of 11 students shows that students\u2019 attitudes improved after instruction using AI to assist in learning Java programming. However, their academic performance did not improve as the researchers had anticipated