GenAI Integration into Engineering Education: A Case Study of an Introductory Undergraduate Engineering Course

A case study examined how engineering instructors integrated GenAI tools into undergraduate coursework for the first time, finding that student performance on formative exercises improved. While students were initially excited to use GenAI, their usage declined over time, and integration remained at basic levels of replacing traditional methods rather than transformative applications.

• →Students' formative exercise performance increased after GenAI integration into engineering coursework.
• →Initial student excitement about using GenAI in coursework diminished over time.
• →Technology integration remained at basic levels, primarily replacing other instructional methods or improving coding efficiency.
• →Engineering faculty's experimental experiences with GenAI provided valuable context-specific insights.
• →Higher education institutions should encourage GenAI experimentation given the unknowns around emerging technology.