Journal of Physical Science and Environmental Studies

Research Paper|Published July, 2026|Vol. 12(4):49-56.

https://doi.org/10.36630/jpses_26017

 

Influence of Digital Tools on Students' Understanding of Architectural Drawings in Nigerian Universities

 

Okor Michael Uduma

 

Department of Building, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

 

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of digital tools on undergraduate architecture students' comprehension of architectural drawings in Nigerian universities. The study employed a descriptive survey research design, involving a sample of 384 undergraduate students selected from five universities. The findings revealed that digital tools significantly enhance students' understanding of architectural drawings, visualization skills, and collaboration, with mean scores of 4.45, 4.55, and 4.30, respectively AutoCAD was the most commonly used digital tool (78.7%), followed by SketchUp (33.7%), and Revit (22.5%). However, the findings also revealed that students faced several challenges, including limited access to software (44.9%), insufficient training (39.3%), and poor internet connectivity (28.1%).  There was  no significant difference in the perceived impact of digital tools on learning outcomes between male and female students (t(382) = 1.21, p = 0.23), suggesting that digital tools are equally effective for both genders. However, , significant differences were found in digital tool adoption across universities (F(4, 379) = 3.45, p = 0.008), with the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University showing higher adoption rates. The study's findings imply that universities should invest in digital tools and supporting infrastructure, improve software accessibility, and provide regular training for both students and faculty to enhance architectural education. The study further recommends prioritizing the integration of digital technologies into teaching and learning, establishing well-equipped digital laboratories, and organizing workshops and training programmes to strengthen students' digital competencies and maximize the educational benefits of digital tools.

Key Words: Digital tools, architectural education, academic performance, AutoCAD, universities, students.

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