STUDENTS’ USAGE OF ChatGPT FOR WRITING PRACTICE

Abstract

ChatGPT is a powerful artificial intelligence tool that has gained popularity among users in various fields. One of the current trends is the application of ChatGPT in teaching and learning foreign languages. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ChatGPT usage among technology students and how they utilize it in their writing practice. The study analyzed the written assignments of 250 first-year IT-major students. The students' assignments were collected through the LMS/LCMS system and the testing system. The analysis results revealed that 42.8% of the students used ChatGPT in their writing practice. While some students showed improvement from using ChatGPT, many students directly copied the ChatGPT responses and had minimal control over the content. The analysis of test results without ChatGPT usage indicated that these students lacked the ability to write independently during exams. The study suggests that the use of ChatGPT needs to be controlled and guided to effectively serve as a helpful learning tool.