Weifeng Qiao
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Interests
Weifeng Qiao has a total of 2 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Manli Li
Institute of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
1 shared publication - Ruimiao Li
Research Institute for International and Comparative Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 24 February 2025
- Published by MDPI AG in Education Sciences
- Vol. 15 (3) , 280
Engineering Students’ Use of Large Language Model Tools: An Empirical Study Based on a Survey of Students from 12 Universities
Large language model (LLM) tools, such as ChatGPT, are rapidly transforming engineering education by enhancing tasks like information retrieval, coding, and writing refinement, which are critical to the problem-solving and technical focus of engineering disciplines. This study investigates how engineering students use LLM tools and the challenges they face, offering insights into the adoption of AI technologies in academic settings. A survey of 539 engineering students from 12 leading Chinese universities, using the UTAUT framework, examines factors such as technological expectations, environmental support, and personal characteristics. The key findings include the following: (1) Over 40% of engineering students use LLM tools, with 18.8% regarding them as indispensable. (2) Trust in AI-generated content remains a central challenge, as students must critically evaluate its accuracy and reliability. (3) Environmental support significantly affects usage, with notable regional disparities, particularly between eastern and other regions in China. (4) A persistent digital divide, influenced by gender, academic level, and socioeconomic background, affects the depth and effectiveness of tool use. These results underscore the need for targeted support to address regional and demographic disparities and optimize LLM tool integration in engineering education.
- 24 February 2025
- Published by MDPI AG in Education Sciences
- Vol. 15 (3) , 280
Open AccessEngineering Students’ Use of Large Language Model Tools: An Empirical Study Based on a Survey of Students from 12 Universities
Large language model (LLM) tools, such as ChatGPT, are rapidly transforming engineering education by enhancing tasks like information retrieval, coding, and writing refinement, which are critical to the problem-solving and technical focus of engineering disciplines. This study investigates how engineering students use LLM tools and the challenges they face, offering insights into the adoption of AI technologies in academic settings. A survey of 539 engineering students from 12 leading Chinese universities, using the UTAUT framework, examines factors such as technological expectations, environmental support, and personal characteristics. The key findings include the following: (1) Over 40% of engineering students use LLM tools, with 18.8% regarding them as indispensable. (2) Trust in AI-generated content remains a central challenge, as students must critically evaluate its accuracy and reliability. (3) Environmental support significantly affects usage, with notable regional disparities, particularly between eastern and other regions in China. (4) A persistent digital divide, influenced by gender, academic level, and socioeconomic background, affects the depth and effectiveness of tool use. These results underscore the need for targeted support to address regional and demographic disparities and optimize LLM tool integration in engineering education.