Published Article

ABSTRACT

Systems approach to Educational Technology emphasises eclecticism which admits importing good techniques and technologies that would enhance the process of education. Artificial Intelligence is one of such technologies. Its efficacy in the social arena gives credence to its adoption in the school system. With the geometric increase in the rate of knowledge generation students need to be assisted to embrace this new technology to assist then in learning. With the rigorous algorithm involved in software development this researcher thought it wise to investigate the impact of AI in students’ learning of software engineering as a gap in knowledge observed in tertiary institutions in Abia State. The study investigated the impact of Artificial Intelligence in learning software engineering in tertiary institutions in Abia State. Four objectives guided the study. The study was purely opinion research adopting face-to-face interview as a blue-print. AI has been embraced by Nigeria schools (including those studying software engineering), however, at a low level with the AIs dedicated to entertainment rather than the real teaching/learning AI platforms; though ChatGPT and SnapChat are gradually becoming popular among students. While respondents agreed to have positive results in learning software development through the use of AI they also expressed negative consequences concomitant to this including encouragement of examination malpractice, making students lazy to think thus reducing their cognitive operations. AI encourages plagiarism in project writing is rife. In consequence it was recommended that on admission, university authorities should include in the introductory courses of 101 subjects the use of AI to learn to give them the right direction and positive attitude to the use of AI for learning thereby reducing some of the abuses of AIs acquired through self-teaching on embracing the learning kits.