<scp>ChatGPT</scp> Practices of High School Students in Programming Education: Experiences, Perceptions and Challenges

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate high school students' intentions to use chatbots via ChatGPT in programming education and to explore their awareness of the potential benefits and drawbacks. In this study, students' experiences with using ChatGPT in educational contexts were evaluated based on the UTAUT2 model. The sample of this study consists of 53 students in the 9th grade. A mixed research method was used in the current study. The Behavioural Intention Scale for Using Chatbots and Learning in Education was administered to the students as a pre‐ and post‐test. The results indicated that students' performance expectancy, effort expectancy, attitude towards improving learning, social influence, facilitating conditions, self‐efficacy and behavioural intentions to use and learn chatbots increased, while their anxiety levels decreased. Interview findings revealed that students raised concerns related to reduced creative thinking, ethical issues, privacy and data security associated with generative AI use.