Control timing as a design dimension for AI-assisted visual authoring: pre-, mid-, and post-generation control

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

The article introduces "control timing" as a key design dimension in AI-assisted visual authoring, operationalized through three interaction paradigms that differ in when teachers intervene relative to AI output. Pre-generation control means users "specify intent solely through natural language prompts before generation"; mid-generation control means users "inspect and confirm an explicit layout structure before the system completes generation"; post-generation control means users "directly modify AI-generated visuals after generation through object-level edits". The framework holds task content constant and varies only the timing of human control.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• The paradigms require a multi-stage generation pipeline with distinct points (intent specification, intermediate planning, localized refinement) at which control can be exercised.

Constraints

• The article instantiates and evaluates the three paradigms only for primary mathematics word problems in a single-session study.

Target Learners

• primary mathematics teachers (Grades 1–6)

Learning Goals

• creating pedagogically correct instructional visuals for arithmetic word problems

Claims

• Post Generation Control Higher Perceived Numerical Correctness [+M]
• Post Generation Control Higher Predictability Ratings [+M]
• No Single Paradigm Dominates Subjective Ratings [+M]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Zhengxu Li, Junling Wang, and April Yi Wang. (2026). When Should Teachers Control AI Generation for Mathematics Visuals? arXiv preprint. https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.10672

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	control-timing-design-space-ai-visual-authoring
title	Control timing as a design dimension for AI-assisted visual authoring: pre-, mid-, and post-generation control
description	The article introduces "control timing" as a key design dimension in AI-assisted visual authoring, operationalized through three interaction paradigms that differ in when teachers intervene relative to AI output.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-12
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — zhengxu-li-2026

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