IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i12p5497-d1678998.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Research on AIGC-Integrated Design Education for Sustainable Teaching: An Empirical Analysis Based on the TAM and TPACK Models

Author

Listed:
  • Ziyang Huang

    (Department of Communication Design, College of Design, Graduate School of Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea)

  • Xuan Fu

    (Department of Communication Design, College of Design, Graduate School of Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea)

  • Jiajia Zhao

    (Department of Communication Design, College of Design, Graduate School of Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

With the rapid proliferation of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AIGC) technologies in higher education, identifying effective integration pathways into design curricula has become a pressing issue in the field of educational technology. This study employs a mixed-methods approach grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, incorporating course analysis, questionnaire surveys, structural path modeling, and interview analysis. Focusing on both instructors and students, this research systematically investigates the acceptance, integration mechanisms, and sustainable development potential of AIGC in university-level design education. The findings indicate that students generally acknowledge the value of AIGC in enhancing creativity and improving efficiency, although gaps persist in their understanding of ethical considerations and original expression. On the teachers’ side, technological knowledge exerts a significant positive influence on the integration of content knowledge, while the impact of pedagogical knowledge remains underutilized. Interview data further reveal a structural tension within current teaching practices, characterized by the rapid adoption of technological tools contrasted with the slower evolution of pedagogical systems. Based on these insights, this study offers five strategic recommendations for sustainable teaching, including the development of teacher training systems, curriculum module design, student media literacy enhancement, and pedagogical reconstruction aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These findings provide both theoretical and practical contributions to the effective and sustainable integration of AIGC into higher design education.

Suggested Citation

  • Ziyang Huang & Xuan Fu & Jiajia Zhao, 2025. "Research on AIGC-Integrated Design Education for Sustainable Teaching: An Empirical Analysis Based on the TAM and TPACK Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-29, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5497-:d:1678998
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5497/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5497/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nayef Shaie Alotaibi, 2024. "The Impact of AI and LMS Integration on the Future of Higher Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies for Transformation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-21, November.
    2. Sandra Saúde & João Paulo Barros & Inês Almeida, 2024. "Impacts of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Research Trends and Students’ Perceptions," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Felipe Muñoz-La Rivera & Pamela Hermosilla & Jean Delgadillo & Dayan Echeverría, 2020. "The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a Basis for Innovation Skills for Engineers in the Industry 4.0 Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Chao-Ming Yang & Tzu-Fan Hsu, 2020. "Integrating Design Thinking into a Packaging Design Course to Improve Students’ Creative Self-Efficacy and Flow Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Hye Yeon Park & Carlos V. Licon & Ole Russell Sleipness, 2022. "Teaching Sustainability in Planning and Design Education: A Systematic Review of Pedagogical Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Tsen-Yao Chang & Yu-Ju Chuang, 2021. "Cultural Sustainability: Teaching and Design Strategies for Incorporating Service Design in Religious Heritage Branding," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Haili Lu & Lin He & Hao Yu & Tao Pan & Kefeng Fu, 2024. "A Study on Teachers’ Willingness to Use Generative AI Technology and Its Influencing Factors: Based on an Integrated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-18, August.
    8. Ding Xiong & Teddy Marius Soikun & Jijun Wang & Wen-Tsao Pan, 2022. "Teaching Mode Design and Effect Evaluation Method of Visual Communication Design Course from the Perspective of Big Data," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2022, pages 1-9, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hye Yeon Park & Danilo Palazzo & Leah Hollstein, 2025. "Case Study for Planning Education: Lessons from Incorporating an Interdisciplinary Teaching Approach and APA Trend Reports in Capstone Planning Studios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Athanasios Papavasileiou & George Konteos & Stavros Kalogiannidis & Dimitrios Kalfas & Christina-Ioanna Papadopoulou, 2025. "Investigating the Impact of Sustainability-Themed Extracurricular Activities on Student Engagement with the 17 SDGs by 2026: A Case Study of Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Wenting Cheng & Chaoying Niu & Liang Huang & Yuyao Zhang, 2025. "Design Strategies for Culinary Heritage Restaurants from a Cultural Sustainability Perspective: Focusing on Generation Z Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-28, April.
    4. Cecilia Smaniotto & Anna Saramin & Laura Brunelli & Maria Parpinel, 2022. "Insights and Next Challenges for the Italian Educational System to Teach Sustainability in a Global Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Francisco Javier Robles-Moral & Manuel Fernández-Díaz & Gabriel Enrique Ayuso-Fernández, 2022. "What Do Pre-Service Preschool Teachers Know about Biodiversity at the Level of Organisms? Preliminary Analysis of Their Ability to Identify Vertebrate Animals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-11, September.
    6. Maria Cristina Costa & Carlos A. F. Ferreira & Henrique J. O. Pinho, 2023. "Physics of Sound to Raise Awareness for Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of STEM Hands-On Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, February.
    7. Stanislav Avsec & Magdalena Jagiełło-Kowalczyk, 2021. "Investigating Possibilities of Developing Self-Directed Learning in Architecture Students Using Design Thinking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-25, April.
    8. Oana Mariana Ciuchi & Laura Emilia Șerbănescu & Ciprian Mihai Dobre & Bogdan Gabriel Georgescu & Bogdan Dumitru Țigănoaia & Petrișor Laurențiu Țucă, 2024. "The Impact of Student Evaluation of Teaching Staff on Enhancing the Quality of Teaching in Higher Education in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Jingdan Hu & Jie Hu, 2022. "Teachers’ Frequency of ICT Use in Providing Sustainable Opportunity to Learn: Mediation Analysis Using a Reading Database," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    10. Dr. Varsha Parikh & Ms. Jigyasha Deka, 2025. "Unlocking Potential: Systematic Review of Generative AI in Higher Education," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(5), pages 5513-5525, May.
    11. Lin Xiao & How Shwu Pyng & Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Ayub & Zhihui Zhu & Jianping Gao & Zehu Qing, 2025. "University Students’ Usage of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: A Cross-Sectional Survey from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-20, April.
    12. Jinyuan Guo & Zhixia Chen & Binyao Zheng, 2021. "Postgraduate Competence and Academic Research Performance: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, June.
    13. Stanislav Avsec & Vesna Ferk Savec, 2021. "Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of, and Experiences with, Technology-Enhanced Transformative Learning towards Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-28, September.
    14. Pamela Hermosilla & Felipe Muñoz-La Rivera & Nicolás Ateaga & Elisa Gallardo, 2021. "Strategy for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Competencies in Engineering Programs to Improve Students’ Learning and Quality of Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.
    15. Hyun Yong Ahn, 2024. "AI-Powered E-Learning for Lifelong Learners: Impact on Performance and Knowledge Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-20, October.
    16. Yanhui Mao & Chuanyu Peng & Yan Liang & Guoping Yuan & Jianhong Ma & Marino Bonaiuto, 2022. "The Relationship Between Perceived Residential Environment Quality (PREQ) and Community Identity: Flow and Social Capital as Mediators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 771-797, September.
    17. Yeşim Sürmelioğlu & Mukaddes Erdem, 2025. "Design, implementation, and evaluation of an online instructional process to enhance teachers’ design thinking skills," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Xiaoyue Hu & Jie Hu, 2021. "A Classification Analysis of the High and Low Levels of Global Competence of Secondary Students: Insights from 25 Countries/Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, October.
    19. Sara Sáez-Velasco & Mario Alaguero-Rodríguez & Sonia Rodríguez-Cano & Vanesa Delgado-Benito, 2025. "Students’ Attitudes Towards AI and How They Perceive the Effectiveness of AI in Designing Video Games," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-13, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5497-:d:1678998. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.