As technology rapidly evolves, education and training are undergoing a significant transformation. One of the most notable advancements is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into instructional design (ID) processes. Josh Bersin, founder of Bersin & Associates, says, “Of all the domains to be impacted by AI, perhaps the biggest transformation is taking place in corporate learning. After a year of experimentation, it’s now clear that AI will revolutionize this space.” A 2023 study found that 70 percent of respondents are actively incorporating AI into their learning and development (L&D) efforts. This relationship between human creativity and machine intelligence is indeed revolutionizing how corporate training content is developed, delivered, and personalized to meet the diverse needs of learners.
ID has traditionally relied on the expertise of professionals to create engaging and informative experiences. Through AI, designers can leverage learning algorithms, natural language processing (NLP) and data analytics to analyze vast amounts of content, learner data, and feedback. By enabling designers to identify patterns and predict learning outcomes, AI can streamline the creative process and allow designers to focus more on creating engaging modules and less on performing repetitive tasks.
Enhancing Personalization and Adaptability
According to an EdTech Review study, learners using personalized learning technology showed a 15-20 percent higher retention rate compared to those using traditional training methods.
One of the most significant benefits of incorporating AI into ID is its ability to enhance personalization and adaptability. Learners have varied needs, preferences, and knowledge. Traditional one-size-fits-all approaches rarely address these variances. However, AI-powered tools address this challenge by delivering personalized learning experiences that adapt in real-time to learners’ interactions and progress. IDs can use AI to create customized learning paths based on an individual user’s performance and feedback. For example, a trainee who is struggling to keep calm with angry customers may be offered additional resources, while a new hire who is a pro at handling disgruntled customers may need more training regarding their company’s policies and procedures. Leveraging AI to personalize learning to each person ensures a more effective learning outcome.
AI tools are ideally suited for the onboarding process. “It’s like having a virtual assistant who guides you through the initial stages of your employment, making sure you feel confident and well-prepared. Throughout your learning journey, AI tools provide personalized reminders, reinforcement exercises, and microlearning modules to help you retain information and continuously improve your skills,” says Shomron Jacob, head of Applied Machine Learning and Platform at Iterate.
Streamlining Content Creation and Delivery
Developing high-quality educational content can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, that requires careful planning, research, and design. IDs perform many repetitive tasks: content categorization, tagging, and basic assessments, to name a few. By off-loading these types of tasks to AI, IDs can focus more on the creative and complex aspects of their role.
For example, AI algorithms can analyze existing training materials to extract key concepts, generate summaries, and create interactive learning modules or quizzes. These tools not only save time for IDs but also ensure that content is up-to-date, relevant, and accessible to learners with diverse needs and backgrounds.
AI-powered tools now support digital content creation which can drastically reduce the time spent on the task. They can sift through a massive volume of information to summarize key points and generate draft content. While this process could consume approximately 70 percent of an instructional designer’s time, with AI it can be completed within a fraction of that time. “Now, with ChatGPT, EntrepreneurGPT, and other tools, learning objectives, outlines, and even full learning content modules can be produced in minutes to hours rather than days to weeks, then followed up with quality control and subject expert matter review” says David Metcalf, director of the Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab at the University of Central Florida.
Promoting Data-Driven Decision Making
AI’s ability to analyze tremendous amounts of data, such as engagement and performance metrics, allows it to forecast areas where learners may face challenges and even preemptively provide solutions and resources. By leveraging data analytics and machine learning algorithms, IDs gain valuable insights into learners’ behaviors, preferences, and performance patterns.
For instance, learning analytics platforms powered by AI can track learners’ progress, engagement levels, and learning trajectories across a variety of activities. This data can then be used to identify areas of strength and weakness, predict future performance, and inform ID decisions such as content selection, pacing, and assessment strategies.
Resources not Courses
AI can be used to replace traditional training with interactive knowledge tools, such as intelligent agents, or chatbots, that can provide information and solve problems. This innovative approach to builds learning resources is more efficient and effective than conventional training courses and it provides individuals with the specific information they need when they need it.
For example, an AI-powered tool can support individuals learning how to use a new software application or feature. “No, this does not mean that MS Word’s ’90s mascot Clippy is returning. Instead, we have a much smarter and far more useful friend at our disposal.” (Ross Stevenson, Chief Learning Strategist, Steal These Thoughts.) Instead of leaving your workflow to find what you need in a separate learning platform, an AI tool can deliver guidance or provide recommendations immediately right where you are – without leaving your browser tab.
A great way to think about resources v. courses is to imagine the London Underground map: “One of my favorite resources is the London Underground map: Whether printed or electronic, it enables me to find my way efficiently. It has a significant and measurable impact on my performance. But it is not a learning tool – it is not a ‘bite-sized nugget enabling me to learn wherever, whenever.’ I am not quietly memorizing the routes during my train journey,” (Nick Shackleton-Jones, author of How People Learn). In this example, the London Underground map is a resource, instruction regarding how to operate the train would be a course.
Real Time Feedback and Support
Don’t forget the impact of real-time feedback: 80 percent of employees who say they have received meaningful feedback in the past week report being fully engaged with their work – regardless of their status as a remote, hybrid, or full-time office employee. Real-time feedback is crucial to successful training. By providing an immediate acknowledgement of correct answers or offering explanations for incorrect responses, AI can help reinforce learning and help learners track their progress. It is not limited by location or time or an instructor’s availability
Furthermore, AI-enabled content delivery platforms can enhance the effectiveness of online learning experiences by providing real-time feedback and recommendations to learners. For example, chatbots powered by NLP can engage learners in interactive conversations, answer questions, and provide guidance throughout their learning journey. Additionally, AI algorithms can analyze learners’ interactions with digital content to identify areas for improvement and tailor future learning activities accordingly.
AI-powered chatbots, for example, can assist learners at any time, wherever they are, answering questions and pointing them to relevant resources. This feedback is key to a trainee’s successful learning, especially in remote learning environments where immediate human support may not be available.
Challenges and Considerations
While there are numerous benefits to integrating AI into ID, there are also several challenges and considerations that must be addressed. One of the primary concerns is the ethical use of AI in education, including issues related to data privacy, bias, and algorithmic transparency. IDs must ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly, ethically and with careful consideration given to the potential impact on learners’ rights and well-being.
Additionally, there is a need to provide ongoing professional development and training to equip IDs with the knowledge and skills to effectively leverage AI. This includes training on how to interpret and analyze learner data, integrate AI-powered tools into their workflows, and mitigate potential risks and challenges associated with AI implementation.
AI is not a substitute for human expertise and creativity. Rather, it is a tool that IDs can use to augment and enhance their existing capabilities. While AI can automate certain tasks and processes, the human touch remains essential to designing meaningful learning experiences that inspire and engage.
Keep in mind that, while AI is ideal for handing data analysis, repetitive tasks, and basic content generation, it is ill-equipped to discern the nuances of human understanding, empathy, and creativity. Those need to come from people. Jacob says, “Complex topics often require the expertise and guidance of human trainers to provide effective instruction. Human trainers excel in areas such as emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and nuanced decision-making, which are areas where AI may fall short.”
Final Thoughts
The integration of AI into the world of instructional design represents a transformative shift in L&D, offering unprecedented opportunities to personalize learning, streamline content creation and delivery, and inform data-driven decisions. By leveraging AI-powered tools and technologies, IDs can create dynamic and adaptive learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of learners in the digital age. As with all educational innovations, the focus should always be on the learner to ensure technology enhances, not overshadows, the human element of learning.
Realizing the full potential of AI in ID, however, requires a thoughtful and ethical approach, with careful consideration given to issues such as data privacy, bias, and algorithmic transparency. IDs must continue to collaborate, innovate, and adapt to ensure that AI enhances, rather than detracts from, the quality and effectiveness of education for all learners. With the right balance of human creativity and machine intelligence, the future of ID powered by AI holds immense promise for transforming training and empowering learners to thrive.
One last thought, from Vivienne Ming, co-founder of Socos Labs: “I think the future of global competition is, unambiguously, about creative talent, and I’m far from the only person who sees this as the main competition point going forward. Everyone will have access to amazing AI. Your vendor on that will not be a huge differentiator. Your creative talent though — that will be who you are. Instead of chasing that race to the bottom on labor costs, invest in turning your talent into a team of explorers who can solve amazing problems using AI as the tool that takes the busy work out. That is the company that wins in the end.”
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Resources
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Bhutoria, Aditi. “Personalized education and Artificial Intelligence in the United States, China, and India: A systematic review using a Human-In-The-Loop model.” ScienceDirect. 4/26/22. Accessed 3/1/24. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X22000236
Eusanio, Ashley. “35 Inspiring Quotes About Artificial Intelligence.” SalesForce.com. 1/23/24. Accessed 3/6/24. https://www.salesforce.com/blog/ai-quotes/#h-ai-quotes-on-workforce-readiness
Freifeld, Lorri. “AI’s Real Role in L&D.” Trainingmag.com. 9/12/23. Accessed 3/1/24. https://trainingmag.com/ais-real-role-in-ld/
Harter, Jim. “A Great Manager’s Most Important Habit.” Gallup. 5/30/23. Accessed 2/28/24. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/505370/great-manager-important-habit.aspx
Jones, Justice. “How to Develope Time Estimages for eLearning Development and the Impact of AI.” 24/7 Teach. Accessed 3/6/24. https://247teach.org/blog-for-instructional-design/understanding-time-estimates-for-elearning-development-and-the-impact-of-ai
Stevenson, Ross. “AI Copilots Will Finally Fulfill The Promise of ‘Learning in The Flow of Work.'” Steal These Thoughts. 6/8/23. Accessed 3/5/24. https://stealthesethoughts.com/2023/06/08/ai-copilots-will-fulfil-the-promise-of-learning-in-the-flow-of-work/
“The Growing Role of AI in Instructional Design.” eLearning Inside. 8/24/23. Accessed 3/4/24. https://news.elearninginside.com/the-growing-role-of-ai-in-instructional-design/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unlocking-future-ld-ai-adoption-soars-joe-seward/
