Investigating the Impact of AI Tools on Programming Education

In our rapidly evolving technological landscape, AI tools have gained substantial power and integration across various domains. This research project examines the impact of AI-powered tools, namely GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT, on students' programming learning. These tools have significantly reduced the reliance on traditional platforms such as Stack Overflow by providing personalized and contextually relevant responses. By empirically evaluating the capabilities of these AI tools and offering insights to educators, this research project aims to assist them in designing programming exercises that encompass essential learning processes while accounting for students' utilization of AI tools. The findings indicate that a majority of the exercises currently utilized by the university can be solved partially or entirely with the aid of these tools. For simpler assignments where providing context is straightforward through a chatbot interface, ChatGPT proves to be a valuable resource. Conversely, for larger assignments implemented within extensive codebases, GitHub Copilot emerges as a more advantageous tool. This project highlights the importance of educators understanding AI tool capabilities to effectively adapt their teaching methods and promote essential learning goals in programming education.