Exploring the Modular Integration of "AI + Architecture" Pedagogy in Undergraduate Design Education: A Case Study of Architectural Design III/IV Courses at Zhejiang University

Phased guidance improves learning outcomes: The study found that a structured 20-hour AI training module combined with embedded ethics discussions was effective at building both technical skills and critical thinking, suggesting that gradual introduction of AI tools—rather than overwhelming students at once—helps students develop "digital skills and strategic cognition."

Ethics must be integrated, not added separately: The research demonstrates that discussing AI ethics alongside technical training, rather than treating it as an afterthought, creates a more balanced educational approach that prepares students to use AI responsibly in their future design work.

Institutional support is essential for success: The course required "dedicated technical instructors" and maintained the original curriculum structure, indicating that successful AI integration in design education depends on adequate resources and institutional commitment rather than simply adding tools to existing courses.

This model is replicable across design programs: The authors explicitly position their approach as "a replicable approach combining technical and critical learning in design education," suggesting that other universities and design schools can adapt this dual-module framework without requiring entirely new curricula.

AI tools can enhance rather than replace design thinking: By introducing deep learning models, LLMs, and AIGC tools while keeping the core design studio intact, the study shows that AI can expand students' capabilities and creative options without fundamentally changing what architectural education teaches about design problem-solving.