In response to the urgent need for global innovation trends and domestic industrial upgrading, China is facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the field of product design majors in higher education institutions.The product design major i...
In response to the urgent need for global innovation trends and domestic industrial upgrading, China is facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the field of product design majors in higher education institutions.The product design major in higher education institutions is a highly comprehensive discipline aimed at cultivating students' design innovation abilities, technical application abilities, and market analysis abilities to meet the demand for high-quality design talents in modern society.In this context, it is especially necessary to deepen product design education. Increasing investment and support for research in product design majors in higher education institutions is not only needed to improve the quality of education but also an inevitable choice to adapt to the new economic development trends.As a major innovation in modern educational technology, online courses provide flexible and convenient learning methods for students majoring in product design in higher education institutions.The online course learning experience is an important indicator of the effectiveness of online teaching in cultivating professional talents in higher education institutions and is influenced by various factors. Additionally, this study examines the roles of academic self-efficacy and online engagement in the relationship between professional identity and online course learning experience among product design students. The study uses scales for professional identity, academic self-efficacy, online engagement, and online course learning experience, and conducted a preliminary survey of product design students randomly. Subsequently, stratified random sampling was used to collect data from product design students in the Northeast, North China, East China, Central China, South China, Southwest, and Northwest regions of the country. Statistical analysis software SPSS.23 was used to analyze the differences in online course learning experience among product design students based on demographic characteristics from the preprocessed valid data. Reliability and validity analyses as well as correlation analyses were conducted. Next, the structural equation modeling tool AMOS.23 was used to test the model fit. Finally, based on the results of path analysis, the causal relationships between variables were examined, and the mediating effects of academic self-efficacy and online engagement in the influence of professional identity on the online course learning experience of product design students were verified. The results of the test for differences in online course learning experience among product design students based on demographic variables show significant differences in the levels of online course learning experience across different genders, grades, admission preferences, places of origin, locations of attending schools, learning method preferences, and online learning experience participation. The study found that male students had significantly higher levels of online course learning experience than female students, with males also significantly outperforming females in the dimensions of course environment experience and learning outcome perception. Among these, lower-grade students (especially sophomores) had better online course learning experiences compared to higher-grade students (juniors and seniors). Students who had product design as their first admission preference had better experiences in online course learning and its various dimensions. Product design students living in rural areas had significantly lower levels of perception in online course learning experience and its various dimensions compared to those living in urban areas. The location of the school is also an influencing factor, with product design students in South China and Southwest China having higher levels of online course learning experience, while those in Northeast China and North China having lower levels. Product design students who preferred face-to-face learning and blended learning had lower online course learning experiences compared to those who preferred live-streamed and recorded courses. Product design students with four semesters of online course learning experience had higher levels of online course learning experience compared to those with one, two, or three semesters of experience. This study focuses on the direct impact of professional identity on online course learning experience, as well as the indirect effects of academic self-efficacy and online engagement between professional identity and online course learning experience. The correlation results show a strong positive correlation between professional identity and academic self-efficacy, and between academic self-efficacy and online course learning experience among product design students. There are also positive correlations between professional identity and online engagement, and between online engagement and online course learning experience. Hypothesis test results show that professional identity has a significant positive predictive effect on online course learning experience among product design students in higher education institutions. Additionally, professional identity can positively predict academic self-efficacy and online engagement; the mediating roles of academic self-efficacy and online engagement between professional identity and online course learning experience are also confirmed, with academic self-efficacy having a significant proportion of the total mediating effect between professional identity and online course learning experience. Furthermore, among product design students, academic self-efficacy can also positively predict online engagement, thus confirming the establishment of a chain mediation effect of academic self-efficacy and online engagement between professional identity and online course learning experience. This forms the influence path of "professional identity —academic self-efficacy—online engagement—online course learning experience. Based on the relationships between professional identity, academic self-efficacy, online engagement, and online course learning experience, this study proposes specific measures to improve the online course learning experience of product design students in higher education institutions by enhancing their professional identity, academic self-efficacy, and online engagement levels. The specific measures are as follows: enhance the interactivity and practicality of online course content, establish a positive online learning community, and optimize course content and structure. Strengthen practice and application-oriented learning experiences, promote self-reflection on professional identity, and provide career planning and development guidance. Detail goals or tasks, and establish the achievability and clarity of goals. Provide interactive learning materials, encourage students to engage in collaborative learning through team projects, host forums and discussion areas, implement peer review mechanisms, build virtual communities and networks, and develop gamified learning.