Soft Scaffolding Confirmed to Markedly Increase Agency in AI Learning

This paper verifies the effect of combining LbD (Learning by Doing) and scaffolding in generative AI design education. Team B applying soft scaffolding showed markedly higher learning agency than Team A. However, despite educational differences, both teams'' poster designs were very similar — raising questions about whether this resulted from strong instructor intervention or AI tools'' inherent tendency to produce similar outputs. FGI results show Team B scored significantly higher in self-directed competency, professional competency, and problem-solving competency. The LbD Soft Scaffolding combination proves far more effective than excessive instructor intervention in cultivating learner agency, confirming this as an effective methodology for future AI design education.