Exploring the Frontier of Software Engineering Education with Chatbots

This article explores the potential of chatbots to bridge the gap for students transitioning from structured programming to object-oriented programming (OOP). We delve into the advantages and disadvantages of using chatbots like ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0, Gemini, and Bing to assist with OOP learning. While these tools offer benefits like providing code examples and explanations, limitations exist in accurate problem interpretation and adherence to best practices. Building upon the previous student-focused analysis, we present the results of a new survey targeting software engineering teachers: ‘Survey on the Use of AI Chatbots in Teaching Software Engineering’. This survey sheds light on how educators integrate chatbots into their curriculum and their perspectives on their effectiveness. The original student survey revealed positive impressions of chatbots as study aids, with a high percentage utilizing and finding them valuable. The teacher survey will provide further insights into their role in the teaching and learning process, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient software engineers. Recognizing and addressing the limitations of chatbots remains crucial to maximizing their potential in OOP education. This paper is an extension of work originally presented in Conisoft 2023 [1].