Over the last year, the ascent of Generative AI (GenAI) has raised concerns about its impact on core skill development, such as problem-solving and algorithmic thinking, in Computer Science students. With the proliferation of these tools, educators must evaluate their role in academia, as neglecting this might culminate in a phenomenon we term the “Junior-Year Wall,” where students struggle in advanced courses due to prior over-dependence on GenAI. Our research seeks to answer the question: “How can educators guide students’ interactions with GenAI to preserve core skill development during their foundational academic years?”

Citation: Dickey, E., Bejarano, A. & Garg, C. AI-Lab: A Framework for Introducing Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools in Computer Programming Courses. SN COMPUT. SCI. 5, 720 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-024-03074-y