Unleashing ChatGPT's impact in higher education: Student and faculty perspectives

Abstract

As Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) gains traction, its impact on post-secondary education is increasingly being debated. This qualitative study explores the perception of students and faculty members at a research university in Canada regarding ChatGPT's use in a post-secondary setting, focusing on how it could be incorporated and what ways instructors can respond to this technology. We present the summary of a discussion that took place in a 2-hour focus group session with 40 participants from the computer science and engineering departments, and highlight issues surrounding plagiarism, assessment methods, and the appropriate use of ChatGPT. Findings suggest that students are likely to use ChatGPT, but there is a need for specific guidelines, more classroom assessments, and mandatory reporting of ChatGPT use. The study contributes to the emergent research on ChatGPT in higher education and emphasizes the importance of proactively addressing challenges and opportunities associated with ChatGPT adoption and use. The novelty of the study involves capturing the perspectives of students and faculty members. This paper aims to provide a more refined understanding of the complex interplay between AI chatbots and higher education that will help educators navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven education.