Impacts of a ChatGPT-supported concept mapping approach on students’ database programming achievement and their problem-solving and critical thinking awareness
Yen-Fen Lee, Gwo‐Jen Hwang, Li‐Chen Cheng · Interactive Learning Environments · 2025
In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), there is growing interest in applying generative AI to education, particularly in programming instruction. Traditional instruction often challenges students to grasp abstract programming concepts. This study explored using ChatGPT as a virtual teaching assistant to enhance learning support. Teachers integrated ChatGPT with concept mapping to assist students in system analysis, design, and question-solving. We proposed a ChatGPT-supported concept mapping-based database programming (GPT-CMDP) approach and evaluated its effectiveness. Participants were university students in northern Taiwan, with 30 in the GPT-CMDP group and 26 in a control group using the conventional concept mapping-based approach (C-CMDP). Results showed that GPT-CMDP students had significantly higher academic performance and better critical thinking and problem-solving skills than the C-CMDP group. These findings highlight the potential of generative AI in enhancing programming education and offer valuable directions for future research.