Examining the Effect of ChatGPT Usage on Students’ Academic Learning and Achievement: A Survey-Based Study in Ajman, UAE
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This research examines the use of ChatGPT among university-level students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its effects on their learning experiences . The precise focus remains on the effects of ChatGPT usage on Student Engagement, Critical Thinking Abilities, and Academic Achievement. Using the cross-sectional design, the Constructivism Learning Theory supports this research. Data gathered using 353 structured questionnaires is analyzed using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results showed that ChatGPT usage positively affects student engagement in the learning process. The effect of ChatGPT usage on Critical Thinking Abilities also remained significant. Finally, the findings indicated the positive effect of ChatGPT usage on the Academic Achievement of Emirati students. These results imply a robust, positive, and constructive role of AI technology, particularly ChatGPT, in the education and learning journey of university students in the UAE. It is concluded that ChatGPT is a useful tool that helps students by providing resources and suggestions throughout their learning process. It increases engagement, effort, and ambition in academic tasks, enhancing academic achievement. ChatGPT supports educational progress and motivates students to obtain knowledge by improving their interest in learning. Finally, the study's implications and limitations are discussed. Also, recommendations for future studies are proposed.
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Scenario-based simulations and classroom activities using ChatGPT have been shown to foster critical, creative, and meditative thinking.
“Scenario-based simulations and classroom activities using ChatGPT have been shown to foster critical, creative, and meditative thinking [29,32].”
From A Systematic Literature Review on the Pedagogical Implications and Impact of GenAI on Students' Critical Thinking (2026) · cites this paper as [32]
These interventions embedded GenAI within learning platforms to generate real-time hints, guiding questions, automated scoring, or corrective feedback.
“These interventions embedded GenAI within learning platforms to generate real-time hints, guiding questions, automated scoring, or corrective feedback in response to student inputs [32,47,49,59].”
From A Systematic Literature Review on the Pedagogical Implications and Impact of GenAI on Students' Critical Thinking (2026) · cites this paper as [32]
Students benefit from adaptive feedback mechanisms inherent in GenAI tools like ChatGPT, which prompt them to reflect on their assumptions and refine their reasoning iteratively.
“Students benefit from adaptive feedback mechanisms inherent in GenAI tools like ChatGPT, which prompt them to reflect on their assumptions and refine their reasoning iteratively [28,32].”
From A Systematic Literature Review on the Pedagogical Implications and Impact of GenAI on Students' Critical Thinking (2026) · cites this paper as [32]
Dependency on AI improves short-term performance at the cost of decreased autonomous cognitive processing.
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From Mapping the impact of generative AI in higher education: A scoping review of psychological and equity dimensions. (2026) · cites this paper as Youssef et al., 2024
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- Authors
- Youssef, E., Medhat, M., Abdellatif, S., & Al Malek, M.
- Affiliations
- Ain Shams University (EG)
- Ajman University (AE)
- Corresponding author
- Youssef, Enaam
- Venue
- Computers and Education Artificial Intelligence
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-12
- Volume
- 7
- Pages
- 100316
- ISSN
- 2666-920X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4403740025
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 3
- FWCI
- 24.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Computers and Education Artificial Intelligence (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Ajman University (201.9.IRG-HB7-7)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Artificial Intelligence in Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning
- Keywords
- ChatGPT, generative AI in education, university students, student engagement, critical thinking, academic performance, constructivist learning theory, Emirati students, Ajman
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