AI Reality in the Classroom: Analyzing Engineering Students' Struggles with Emerging Technology

Abstract

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is becoming increasingly important in the field of engineering and modern industries. However, students may face limitations and challenges in applying this technology in their learning. These challenges include difficulty in understanding AI concepts, lack of technical support, absence of practical training, high equipment costs, and insufficient reference materials. If these challenges are not identified and addressed, they may affect students' ability to compete in a job market that is increasingly reliant on AI technology. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the level of challenges faced in the use of AI technology in final year projects among Diploma in Electrical Engineering students. The study sample consisted of students enrolled in the Final Year Project course from the Diploma Kejuruteraan Elektrik, Diploma Kejuruteraan Elektrik & Elektronik, and Diploma Kejuruteraan Elektronik (Komunikasi) programme at Politeknik Kota Bharu. A total of 65 students participated in this study by completing an online questionnaire. SPSS is used for data analysis in this study, employing statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, t-tests (Two-Sample Assuming Unequal Variances) and ANOVA Single Factor to compare means across 2 and 3 independents groups. Based on data analysis, there is no statistically significant evidence to conclude that there is a difference in the average scores among different genders and different programmes. Although the findings indicate that the overall average mean scores for challenges are relatively low (2.19 and 2.43), several key issues remain. These include students' difficulty in understanding AI concepts, limited technical support from lecturers, the lack of workshops or training opportunities, and the high cost of equipment. Therefore, it is still essential to strengthen support systems to help students gain a better mastery of AI technology.

Key words: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Learning Challenges, Final Year Project