Towards Integrating Emerging AI Applications in SE Education
Michael Vierhauser, Iris Groher, Tobias Antensteiner, Clemens Sauerwein
TL;DR
Problem addressed: emerging AI tools, particularly LLMs, challenge traditional SE education and necessitate guidelines for integration into curricula. Approach: a preliminary systematic analysis of current AI trends in research and education, mapped to the CS2023 curriculum, based on 54 relevant papers. Contributions: a structured overview of AI applications across SDF and SE, two proposed directions for competency-focused exercise generation and AI-enabled SE education, and a roadmap for further didactic research. Significance: provides actionable guidance for instructors and curriculum designers to leverage AI tools in SE education while mitigating risks and aligning with CS2023.
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches have been incorporated into modern learning environments and software engineering (SE) courses and curricula for several years. However, with the significant rise in popularity of large language models (LLMs) in general, and OpenAI's LLM-powered chatbot ChatGPT in particular in the last year, educators are faced with rapidly changing classroom environments and disrupted teaching principles. Examples range from programming assignment solutions that are fully generated via ChatGPT, to various forms of cheating during exams. However, despite these negative aspects and emerging challenges, AI tools in general, and LLM applications in particular, can also provide significant opportunities in a wide variety of SE courses, supporting both students and educators in meaningful ways. In this early research paper, we present preliminary results of a systematic analysis of current trends in the area of AI, and how they can be integrated into university-level SE curricula, guidelines, and approaches to support both instructors and learners. We collected both teaching and research papers and analyzed their potential usage in SE education, using the ACM Computer Science Curriculum Guidelines CS2023. As an initial outcome, we discuss a series of opportunities for AI applications and further research areas.