Modeling the critical factors affecting the success of online architectural education to enhance educational sustainability

Abstract

Due to their unique requirements, the COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an urgent shift toward online education, profoundly impacting disciplines such as architectural education (AE). While online education has demonstrated efficacy in theoretical domains, practical disciplines like AE face significant challenges, particularly in design studios (DS). This study aims to identify the critical factors affecting the success of online architectural education for sustaining educational quality amid crises. A comprehensive systematic literature review was undertaken, followed by the development of a questionnaire encompassing 53 challenges pertinent to online architectural education (OAE). The questionnaire was administered to architecture students who had experienced OAE, resulting in 232 fully completed responses. Twenty-four critical challenges (CCs) were identified through normalized mean value analysis. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three pivotal factors, subsequently validated by confirmatory factor analysis. A structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to elucidate the magnitude of impact exerted by these critical factors on the success of OAE. Critical challenge factors encompassed obstacles to (1) interactive, communicative, and collaborative social learning, (2) inexperience and technical constraints, and (3) enhanced accessibility, and self-sufficiency. These findings represent a first and novel contribution to this domain, distinct from previous research endeavors, by delineating the primary factors critical to the success of OAE.