In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the role of instructional designers and educators has never been more crucial. The demand for engaging, effective, and up-to-date course content is increasing, and so is the complexity of designing such content.

Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI)—a tool that is revolutionising how courses are designed and delivered. As someone who has embraced AI in course design, I have witnessed firsthand how it can transform the process, making it more efficient, innovative, and aligned with educational methodologies like Bloom’s Taxonomy, the Kirkpatrick Model, and the ADDIE framework.

In this article, I will share my experiences and insights into how AI can be used to design courses that not only meet learning objectives but also engage and inspire students.

AI as a trained assistant in course design

Designing a course is no simple task. It involves aligning content with established educational methodologies, defining clear learning objectives, and creating materials that are both engaging and pedagogically sound. Traditionally, this has been a manual and time-consuming process. However, AI is changing that by acting as a trained assistant throughout the design process.

One of the most significant ways AI assists in course design is by helping to identify learning objectives. By analysing the subject matter and considering the desired outcomes, AI can suggest specific, measurable, and achievable objectives. This aligns perfectly with frameworks like Bloom’s Taxonomy, which categorises learning goals into cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. AI can be trained to understand these domains and provide recommendations that ensure each course element contributes to the overall educational goals.

Moreover, AI can also assist in building course outlines. By understanding the course’s scope and the instructional methodologies being employed, AI can suggest how to structure the content into modules, define the length of each topic, and even propose the order in which concepts should be introduced. This not only streamlines the course design process but also ensures that the content is logically organised and pedagogically effective.

Creating exercises and business cases with AI

Exercises and business cases are vital components of any course, as they allow students to apply what they have learned in practical scenarios. Designing these elements can be particularly challenging, especially when trying to ensure they are relevant, challenging, and aligned with the course’s learning objectives. Here, AI can be an invaluable tool.

AI can generate exercises tailored to the course’s objectives, ensuring that each task reinforces the key concepts being taught. For example, if the course focuses on critical thinking, AI can create exercises that challenge students to analyse, evaluate, and synthesize information. This level of customisation ensures that the exercises are not only relevant but also contribute directly to achieving the course’s goals.

In my own courses, I’ve used AI to develop business case frameworks that students can then personalise (as discussed in my previous article on using GenAI in the classroom). AI’s ability to generate complex, multi-faceted scenarios means that students are exposed to realistic challenges that mirror their professional environments. This not only enhances their learning experience but also prepares them for real-world applications of their knowledge.

Designing visuals and presentations with AI

Visuals play a crucial role in enhancing understanding and retention of information. Whether it’s a PowerPoint slide, an infographic, or a video, the quality of visual content can significantly impact a course’s effectiveness. Traditionally, creating high-quality visuals required specialised skills and a significant time investment. AI has simplified this process, making it accessible even to those without a design background.

Tools like DALL·E and Stable Diffusion allow educators to generate custom images and graphics with simple text prompts. These AI-driven applications can create visuals that are not only relevant to the course content but also visually engaging. For instance, if a course requires a graphic that illustrates a complex process, AI can generate it in seconds, saving time and ensuring consistency across all materials.

Beyond graphics, AI can also assist in designing entire PowerPoint presentations. By analysing the course outline and objectives, AI can suggest how to structure the presentation, what key points to highlight, and even the visual style that would be most effective. This ensures that presentations are not only visually appealing but also aligned with the pedagogical goals of the course.

Developing student and teacher workbooks with AI

Workbooks are essential tools in any course, providing students with structured activities and exercises that reinforce learning. Similarly, teacher workbooks and presenter notes are crucial for ensuring that instructors are well-prepared and that the course runs smoothly. AI can significantly streamline the creation of these materials.

By understanding the course content and learning objectives, AI can generate student workbooks that include a variety of exercises, from simple recall questions to complex problem-solving tasks. These workbooks can be customised to match the course’s pacing and difficulty level, ensuring that students are consistently challenged and engaged.

For instructors, AI can create detailed presenter notes that outline key points, suggest questions to ask students, and even provide tips on how to facilitate discussions. This support allows instructors to focus more on engaging with students and less on the logistical aspects of teaching.

Pre-Training AI for course development

One of the most powerful aspects of AI in course design is its ability to be pre-trained on specific methodologies and preferences. For instance, if you prefer to design courses with a certain number of modules, a specific sequence of topics, or a particular focus on interactive elements, you can train an AI model to follow these guidelines.

This pre-training allows AI to act as an extension of your instructional design process. It can generate course outlines, transcripts, and even video content that adheres to your specific preferences. The result is a course that is not only efficiently produced but also consistently aligned with your educational philosophy.

In my own experience, I have used AI to generate video transcripts and even outline video courses. This has been particularly useful in ensuring that all content is consistent and that the videos align with the course’s learning objectives. By guiding AI and reviewing its output, I can maintain control over the course design while benefiting from the speed and efficiency that AI offers.

AI as an augmenter, not a replacement

It’s important to emphasise that while AI is a powerful tool in course design, it is not a replacement for the instructional designer or educator. Instead, AI serves as an augmenter—enhancing the capabilities of educators by speeding up the design process, providing data-driven insights, and allowing for greater creativity in course creation.

The role of the educator remains critical in guiding AI, reviewing its output, and ensuring that the final course design meets the educational goals. AI can handle heavy lifting, but the human touch is essential in crafting a course that is not only effective but also meaningful and inspiring.

Hmm, So about the future of course design with AI

As we look to the future of education, it’s clear that AI will play an increasingly important role in course design. By leveraging AI, educators can create courses that are more personalised, engaging, and effective. From generating learning objectives and exercises to designing visuals and workbooks, AI offers a range of tools that can streamline the course design process and enhance the quality of the final product.

For educators and instructional designers, the message is clear: AI is not here to replace you, but to empower you. By embracing AI, you can focus more on the creative and pedagogical aspects of course design, while AI handles the routine tasks. The result is a more dynamic, responsive, and effective educational experience for students.