ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration Course
GenAI tools like ChatGPT have changed the educational landscape, and empirical experiences are needed to better understand how to use them to their fullest potential. This article empirically explores the usage of ChatGPT 3.5 in database administration education through a case study conducted with 4...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/985 |
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| author | Daniel López-Fernández Ricardo Vergaz |
| author_facet | Daniel López-Fernández Ricardo Vergaz |
| author_sort | Daniel López-Fernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | GenAI tools like ChatGPT have changed the educational landscape, and empirical experiences are needed to better understand how to use them to their fullest potential. This article empirically explores the usage of ChatGPT 3.5 in database administration education through a case study conducted with 40 computer science students. Specifically, it inspects how widespread the use of ChatGPT is and students’ perceptions of this tool, how prior knowledge on a topic affects the use of ChatGPT, and the relationship between the usage of ChatGPT and success in solving practical problems. The student’s grades in a computer practical exam, a set of theoretical tests to assess progression in knowledge acquisition, and a comprehensive questionnaire are employed as research instruments. The obtained results indicate that students use ChatGPT moderately but more frequently than traditional internet learning resources such as official documentation, Stack Overflow or googling. However, the usage is uneven among students, and those who end up getting better grades use ChatGPT more. Beyond prompting skills, one of the elements that is key to the students’ productive use of this tool is their prior knowledge about database administration. This article concludes that ChatGPT is an excellent educational instrument in the context of database administration and that in order to use it properly, it is necessary for students to have good prompting skills as well as a sound theoretical basis. Training students in the use of GenAI tools like ChatGPT, for example, with a guided practice strategy where prompting and conducted step-by-step practice are employed is key to prevent the appearance of new digital trenches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a466d8444404332aa137b2a461d0adc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a466d8444404332aa137b2a461d0adc2025-01-24T13:21:34ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115298510.3390/app15020985ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration CourseDaniel López-Fernández0Ricardo Vergaz1Departamento Sistemas Informáticos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28031 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Tecnología Electrónica, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Madrid, SpainGenAI tools like ChatGPT have changed the educational landscape, and empirical experiences are needed to better understand how to use them to their fullest potential. This article empirically explores the usage of ChatGPT 3.5 in database administration education through a case study conducted with 40 computer science students. Specifically, it inspects how widespread the use of ChatGPT is and students’ perceptions of this tool, how prior knowledge on a topic affects the use of ChatGPT, and the relationship between the usage of ChatGPT and success in solving practical problems. The student’s grades in a computer practical exam, a set of theoretical tests to assess progression in knowledge acquisition, and a comprehensive questionnaire are employed as research instruments. The obtained results indicate that students use ChatGPT moderately but more frequently than traditional internet learning resources such as official documentation, Stack Overflow or googling. However, the usage is uneven among students, and those who end up getting better grades use ChatGPT more. Beyond prompting skills, one of the elements that is key to the students’ productive use of this tool is their prior knowledge about database administration. This article concludes that ChatGPT is an excellent educational instrument in the context of database administration and that in order to use it properly, it is necessary for students to have good prompting skills as well as a sound theoretical basis. Training students in the use of GenAI tools like ChatGPT, for example, with a guided practice strategy where prompting and conducted step-by-step practice are employed is key to prevent the appearance of new digital trenches.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/985educational technologiesChatGPTGenAILLMcomputer science educationdatabase administration |
| spellingShingle | Daniel López-Fernández Ricardo Vergaz ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration Course Applied Sciences educational technologies ChatGPT GenAI LLM computer science education database administration |
| title | ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration Course |
| title_full | ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration Course |
| title_fullStr | ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration Course |
| title_full_unstemmed | ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration Course |
| title_short | ChatGPT in Computer Science Education: A Case Study on a Database Administration Course |
| title_sort | chatgpt in computer science education a case study on a database administration course |
| topic | educational technologies ChatGPT GenAI LLM computer science education database administration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/985 |
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