Study Reveals Student Perceptions of AI Coding Assistants in Programming Education

The arrival of AI coding assistants in educational settings presents a paradigm shift, introducing a 'new kid in the classroom' for both students and instructors.

Our findings reveal that students perceived AI tools as helpful for grasping code concepts and boosting their confidence during the initial development phase.

However, a noticeable difficulty emerged when students were asked to work unaided, pointing to potential overreliance and gaps in foundational knowledge transfer.

These insights highlight a critical need for new pedagogical approaches that integrate AI effectively while effectively enhancing core programming skills, rather than impersonating them.