Exploring Opportunities for More Effective Acquisition and Interpretation of New Knowledge by Students in the Field of Architectural Visualization Through Multimedia Learning

This study explores opportunities for improving the learning process of design students using multimedia and microlearning, with a focus on architectural visualization. It analyzes the learning habits of students and faculty in higher education, reflects on the need for digitalization and adaptation to the cognitive characteristics of Generations Z and Alpha, and emphasizes the importance of visual perception in design thinking. The research includes a survey of 130 respondents from eight Bulgarian universities and an experiment with three groups of students using different learning methods—live demonstration, video demonstration, and a combined approach. The results indicate that the combined method leads to the highest levels of understanding, confidence, and task performance. The research is grounded in pedagogical theories related to visual learning and cognitive engagement, particularly relevant for Generations Z and Alpha. Students expressed a preference for short, practice-oriented formats, such as project-based learning and video tutorials, aligning with their digital fluency and attention patterns. The results underline the importance of incorporating multimedia elements and flexible instructional strategies to support motivation, engagement, and effective skill development in design education.