Student Perceptions of the Use of Gen-AI in a Higher Education Program in Spain
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
- To what extent are the participants familiar with the use of Gen-AI technologies for educational purposes?
- What are possible differences in participants’ perceptions towards using Gen-AI?
- What are the potential benefits of the use of these Gen-AI-based resources as perceived by university student teachers?
- What are the potential challenges and concerns raised by university student teachers in relation to the use of Gen-AI-based resources?
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Participants and Context
3.2. Data Collection Instruments
3.3. Data Analysis
3.4. Description of the Intervention Program
4. Results
4.1. To What Extent Are the Participants Familiar with the Use of Gen-AI Technologies for Educational Purposes?
4.2. What Are the Potential Benefits of the Use of These Gen-AI-Based Resources as Perceived by University Student Teachers?
4.2.1. Learning Enhancement
4.2.2. Student Engagement
4.2.3. Teaching Efficiency
4.2.4. Content Management
4.2.5. Technological Innovation in Class
4.2.6. Accessibility and Inclusion
4.3. What Are the Potential Challenges and Concerns Raised by University Student Teachers in Relation to the Use of Gen-AI-Based Resources?
4.3.1. Dependency and Overreliance
4.3.2. Reduced Learning and Critical Thinking
4.3.3. Loss of Creativity and Original Thinking
4.3.4. Reduced Human Interaction
4.3.5. Technical and Resource Limitations
4.3.6. Information Quality Concerns
4.3.7. Privacy and Security Issues
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Male Students (n = 96) M | Female Students (n = 311) M | |
---|---|---|
Students who reported having participated in Gen-AI-based projects | 29.24% | 24.91% |
Students who reported not having participated in Gen-AI-based projects | 70.76% | 75.09% |
Pre-Test (n = 407) | Posttest (n = 407) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M | Mo | R | M | Mo | R | |
Block 1—Resource efficiency | ||||||
1. I would recommend the use of Gen-AI for the teaching-learning process | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
2. I find that the use of Gen-AI can be useful for learning knowledge in students | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
3. I intend to use Gen-AI-based projects when I become a teacher | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
4. Gen-AI projects allow students to acquire knowledge more quickly | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
5. I would like my university professors to use Gen-AI for my training | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
6. Gen-AI-based activities facilitate the learning of the contents worked on | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
7. I enjoy Gen-AI lessons so much that I would like to know more about it. | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
8. Successfully completing a Gen-AI lesson is important to me | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Block 2—Design appropriateness | ||||||
9. I can design a Gen-AI project without help | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
10. I can design a Gen-AI project if I have the time to do the task | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
11. I have enough resources to create Gen-AI projects in my future work as a teacher | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
12. I can design a Gen-AI project with help (tutorial, people…) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Block 3—Resource attractiveness | ||||||
13. The use of Gen-AI for learning is a good idea | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
14. Gen-AI makes learning more interesting | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
15. The use of Gen-AI for learning is fun | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Block 4—Suitability as a study tool | ||||||
16. Using Gen-AI in the core units would improve my performance | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
17. I would like to use Gen-AI as a tool for study | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
18. Using Gen-AI during classes would make it easier for me to understand certain concepts | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Block 5—Possible difficulties | ||||||
19. Using Gen-AI somehow intimidates me | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
20. I feel insecure when using Gen-AI | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
21. There is so much information that I find it difficult to recall key information | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Learning Acquired in AI-Powered Program | Negative Rank | Positive Rank | Test Statistics | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | Mean Rank | Sum of Ranks | n | Mean Rank | Sum of Ranks | Ties | z | p | |
Block 1—Resource efficiency | |||||||||
1. I would recommend it for the teaching-learning process | 102 | 143.98 | 14,685 | 203 | 156.07 | 31,370 | 102 | −5.663 | <0.001 |
2. I find that can be useful for learning knowledge | 100 | 128.24 | 12,823 | 180 | 147.31 | 26,516 | 127 | −5.263 | <0.001 |
3. I intend to use it when I become a teacher | 89 | 144.72 | 12,880 | 199 | 144.40 | 28,735 | 119 | −5.776 | <0.001 |
4. It allows students to acquire knowledge more quickly | 89 | 149.20 | 13,279 | 207 | 148.20 | 30,677 | 111 | −6.112 | <0.001 |
5. I would like my university professors to use Gen-AI for my training | 110 | 151.47 | 16,207 | 201 | 156.11 | 31,379 | 96 | −4.985 | <0.001 |
6. It facilitates the learning of the contents worked on | 90 | 131.41 | 11,827 | 190 | 144.81 | 27,513 | 127 | −5.995 | <0.001 |
7. I enjoy so much that I would like to know more about it. | 105 | 139.63 | 14,242 | 195 | 153.91 | 30,010 | 107 | −5.499 | <0.001 |
8. Successfully completing a Gen-AI lesson is important | 107 | 136.65 | 13,938 | 181 | 145.02 | 26,248 | 119 | −4.616 | <0.001 |
Block 2—Design appropriateness | |||||||||
9. I can design it without help | 73 | 129.38 | 9445 | 270 | 183.52 | 49,551 | 62 | −11.080 | <0.001 |
10. I can design a Gen-AI project if I have the time to do the task | 62 | 117.44 | 7281 | 232 | 155.53 | 36,084 | 113 | −10.084 | <0.001 |
11. I have enough resources to create Gen-AI projects in my future work as a teacher | 76 | 127.4 | 9682 | 236 | 165.87 | 39,145 | 95 | −9.443 | <0.001 |
12. I can design a Gen-AI project with help (tutorial, people…) | 71 | 132.24 | 9389 | 224 | 153.01 | 34,271 | 112 | −8.771 | <0.001 |
Block 3—Resource attractiveness | |||||||||
13. The use of Gen-AI for learning is a good idea | 94 | 142.97 | 13,439 | 200 | 149.63 | 29,926 | 113 | −5.861 | <0.001 |
14. It makes learning more interesting | 103 | 142.15 | 14,641 | 188 | 148.11 | 27,845 | 116 | −4.778 | <0.001 |
15. The use for learning is fun | 87 | 134.76 | 11,724 | 191 | 141.66 | 27,056 | 129 | −5.972 | <0.001 |
Block 4—Suitability as a study tool | |||||||||
16. Using Gen-AI would improve my performance | 105 | 142.41 | 14,668 | 201 | 157.67 | 31,692 | 101 | −5.707 | <0.001 |
17. I would like to use it as a tool for study | 106 | 143.78 | 16,679 | 187 | 157.10 | 29,377 | 104 | −4.314 | <0.001 |
18. It would make it easier for me to understand certain concepts | 110 | 134.48 | 14,792 | 178 | 150.69 | 26,823 | 119 | −4.402 | <0.001 |
Block 5—Possible difficulties | |||||||||
19. Using Gen-AI intimidates me | 165 | 168.75 | 27,843 | 156 | 152.81 | 23,838 | 86 | −1.226 | 0.220 |
20. I feel insecure when using it | 172 | 155.91 | 26,815 | 138 | 152.73 | 20,771 | 97 | −1.974 | 0.048 |
21. I find it difficult to recall key information | 142 | 149.32 | 21,203 | 157 | 150.62 | 23,647 | 108 | −0.837 | 0.403 |
Learning Acquired in AI-Powered Program | 18–19 Year-Old Students | 20–21 Year-Old Students | +22 Year-Old Students | Test Statistics | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | Mean Rank | n | Mean Rank | N | Mean Rank | H | gl | p | |
Block 1—Resource efficiency | |||||||||
1. I would recommend it for the teaching-learning process | 247 | 213.5 | 123 | 186.7 | 37 | 185.6 | 5870 | 2 | 0.053 |
2. I find that can be useful for learning knowledge | 247 | 217.1 | 123 | 183.2 | 37 | 179.6 | 9834 | 2 | 0.007 * |
3. I intend to use it when I become a teacher | 247 | 212.3 | 123 | 191.4 | 37 | 184.5 | 4169 | 2 | 0.124 |
4. It allows students to acquire knowledge more quickly | 247 | 215.2 | 123 | 181.6 | 37 | 197.5 | 7678 | 2 | 0.022 * |
5. I would like it to be used for my training | 247 | 207.7 | 123 | 198.1 | 37 | 182.7 | 1903 | 2 | 0.386 |
6. It facilitates the learning of the contents worked on | 247 | 210.9 | 123 | 186.7 | 37 | 203.3 | 4011 | 2 | 0.135 |
7. I enjoy so much that I would like to know more about it. | 247 | 212.5 | 123 | 192.1 | 37 | 181.2 | 4445 | 2 | 0.108 |
8. Successfully completing a Gen-AI lesson is important | 247 | 210.6 | 123 | 195.9 | 37 | 170.6 | 4840 | 2 | 0.089 |
Block 2- Design appropriateness | |||||||||
9. I can design it without help | 247 | 211.6 | 123 | 194.3 | 37 | 185.1 | 3046 | 2 | 0.218 |
10. I can design a Gen-AI project if I have the time to do the task | 247 | 208.7 | 123 | 195.1 | 37 | 190.6 | 1704 | 2 | 0.427 |
11. I have enough resources to create Gen-AI projects in my future work as a teacher | 247 | 224.1 | 123 | 178.3 | 37 | 149.6 | 22,535 | 2 | <0.001 * |
12. I can design a Gen-AI project with help (tutorial, people…) | 247 | 215.1 | 123 | 192.3 | 37 | 163.2 | 8705 | 2 | 0.013 * |
Block 3- Resource attractiveness | |||||||||
13. The use of Gen-AI for learning is a good idea | 247 | 209.7 | 123 | 194.8 | 37 | 196.2 | 1741 | 2 | 0.419 |
14. It makes learning more interesting | 247 | 210.0 | 123 | 195.1 | 37 | 193.7 | 1866 | 2 | 0.393 |
15. The use for learning is fun | 247 | 209.9 | 123 | 191.2 | 37 | 201.2 | 2439 | 2 | 0.295 |
Block 4- Suitability as a study tool | |||||||||
16. Using Gen-AI would improve my performance | 247 | 215.6 | 123 | 182.1 | 37 | 198.5 | 7514 | 2 | 0.023 * |
17. I would like to use it as a tool for study | 247 | 215.1 | 123 | 184.8 | 37 | 193.9 | 6481 | 2 | 0.039 * |
18. It would make it easier for me to understand certain concepts | 247 | 211.3 | 123 | 184.3 | 37 | 214.7 | 5304 | 2 | 0.071 |
Block 5- Possible difficulties | |||||||||
19. Using Gen-AI intimidates me | 247 | 194.9 | 123 | 206.1 | 37 | 252.6 | 8457 | 2 | 0.015 * |
20. I feel insecure when using it | 247 | 197.2 | 123 | 203.4 | 37 | 245.6 | 6021 | 2 | 0.049 * |
21. I find it difficult to recall key information | 247 | 205.8 | 123 | 200.3 | 37 | 204.1 | 0.205 | 2 | 0.903 |
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Campillo-Ferrer, J.M.; López-García, A.; Miralles-Sánchez, P. Student Perceptions of the Use of Gen-AI in a Higher Education Program in Spain. Digital 2025, 5, 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital5030029
Campillo-Ferrer JM, López-García A, Miralles-Sánchez P. Student Perceptions of the Use of Gen-AI in a Higher Education Program in Spain. Digital. 2025; 5(3):29. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital5030029
Chicago/Turabian StyleCampillo-Ferrer, José María, Alejandro López-García, and Pedro Miralles-Sánchez. 2025. "Student Perceptions of the Use of Gen-AI in a Higher Education Program in Spain" Digital 5, no. 3: 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital5030029
APA StyleCampillo-Ferrer, J. M., López-García, A., & Miralles-Sánchez, P. (2025). Student Perceptions of the Use of Gen-AI in a Higher Education Program in Spain. Digital, 5(3), 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital5030029