Advancing Quality Education in Architecture: A Comparative Study on Traditional and Digital Learning Approaches
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7719/jpair.v64i1.987Keywords:
Architecture Education, Creative Thinking, Design Thinking Methodology, Quantitative Comparative Design, SDG 4 Quality EducationDisciplines:
Architectural Education, Pedagogical Research in DesignAbstract
This study compares traditional and digital learning methods in developing design and visualization skills among fourth-year architecture students at a private higher education institution in Cebu City, Philippines. It focuses on four core competencies: accuracy, creativity, efficiency, and spatial understanding guided by Design Thinking, emphasizing empathy, ideation, and iterative problem-solving. The study explores how pedagogical strategies shape student outcomes. A quantitative comparative design was employed, involving 187 randomly selected students. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results showed that digital methods significantly enhanced accuracy and efficiency, especially in tasks requiring precision and technical output. Traditional methods, meanwhile, better support creative thinking and conceptual planning. Students reported that a blended approach combining both methods offered the most balanced and effective learning experience. The study concludes that a flexible, student-centered blended learning model best supports skill development in architectural education. This approach not only improves learning outcomes but also advances Sustainable Development Goal 4 by promoting inclusive, quality, and future-ready education. Furthermore, it aligns with internationalization by fostering digital fluency and pedagogical adaptability across diverse learning environments. The findings underscore the value of integrating thoughtful pedagogy with technology to prepare architecture students for the evolving demands of global design practice.
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References
Al-Matarneh, R., & Fethi, I. (2016). Assessing the Impact of CAD Tools on Architectural Design Quality-A case study of graduation projects in Jordan. In Parametricism Vs. Materialism: Evolution of Digital Technologies for Development [8th ASCAAD Conference Proceedings (pp. 331-50). https://bit.ly/4jtW2x3
Al-Rqaibat, S., Al-Nusair, S., & Bataineh, R. (2025). Enhancing architectural education through hybrid digital tools: Investigating the impact on design creativity and cognitive processes. Smart Learning Environments, 12(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00370-9
Saleh, A., & Ansari, A. A. (2019). Analyzing new trends in architecture pedagogy (teaching methodology in architecture education). International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT), 8(5).
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Copyright (c) 2026 Lynne Ivy Illaga, Antoniette M. Almaden, Nicole Grace Ceniza, Carla Nicole Francisco, Jezrael Philip Fuentes, Jeliane Marie Santillan, Trexie Margarette Tagbar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Open Access. This article published by JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). You are free to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material). Under the following terms, you must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
