The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has profoundly impacted all sectors of society, with education and teaching undergoing particularly significant transformations driven by AI. This study examines the influence of AI on higher education, using the Python programming course at Nanfang College Guangzhou as a case study. A series of comparative experiments were conducted, in which students were divided into five groups: one using ERNIE Bot, one using Doubao, one using Kimi, one using ChatGPT, and a control group not using any AI tools. The results showed that students who used AI tools achieved a 20% - 30% increase in programming speed, demonstrated more positive and innovative thinking, and incorporated more creative elements into their projects. However, the AI tool-using groups exhibited some weaknesses in code accuracy. In contrast, the control group performed better in terms of code accuracy. Overall, the AI tool-using groups slightly outperformed the control group in terms of overall performance and achieved superior results in subject competitions. AI not only enriches teaching resources and methods but also stimulates students’ innovative thinking and enhances their comprehensive literacy and independent learning abilities. However, the study also highlights that excessive reliance on AI could hinder the development of critical thinking, emphasizing the need to balance the use of AI tools with the cultivation of critical thinking in educational reform. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the teaching reform of Python programming courses and offers valuable insights for educators in developing strategies to integrate AI into teaching, aiming to improve teaching quality and better equip students for the growing demand for high-quality talent in the modern era.
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