Discover how instructional designers leverage generative AI applications for course design and development tasks ranging from writing learning objectives to designing interactive online activities.  This interactive session offers practical workflows, ethical insights, and authentic examples to inspire instructional design practices with AI as a creative partner, not just a tool.

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is transforming instructional design practices across higher education, offering tools that promote creativity, increase workload efficiency, and accelerate course design and development timelines.  While early discussions focused on academic integrity and ethical concerns of student-generated content, there is an emerging focus on how GenAI can support instructional design practitioners behind course design and development processes.

Recent research literature (Luo et al., 2024; Kumar et al., 2024) confirms that instructional designers are increasingly using GenAI for critical course design tasks such as developing measurable/observable learning objectives, assessments, content outlines, and instructional materials.  As institutes of higher education (IHE) continue to evolve their online and digital learning experiences, instructional designers are uniquely positioned to lead the creative, ethical, and innovative integration of GenAI technologies into practice.

This interactive discovery session highlights how generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Firefly can be used to support seven essential course design tasks aligned to “systems approach” instructional design models such as ADDIE and Dick and Carey.  Attendees will explore practical use cases and authentic examples, walk through sample prompts and workflows, and reflect on challenges such as content bias, hallucinations, authorship, and inclusivity.  Whether you are new to AI or actively experimenting, this session will help demystify how GenAI can be used creatively and ethically in contemporary instructional design practices.

Audience Active Engagement

This discovery session will offer live demonstrations on how GenAI tools can be integrated into core instructional design tasks specifically targeting course design, such as creating course- and module-level learning objectives, assessments, and course materials.  Attendees will be encouraged to explore various GenAI tools through guided activities and real-time prompting experiments with opportunities to discuss practical applications and challenges within their unique contexts.  A handout entitled “GenAI-Powered Course Design Starter Kit” will be provided and will feature course design tasks frequently carried out by instructional design practitioners, sample GenAI prompts, and suggested GenAI tools to use.

Key Takeaways (Goals)

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

·    Identify 5-7 core instructional design tasks that are well-suited to GenAI augmentation while aligned with the systems approach to instructional design (ADDIE and Dick and Carey models).

·    Discuss effective prompt strategies for course design tasks (e.g., writing aligned learning objectives, content sequencing, drafting assessments, and creating rubrics).

·    Apply and adapt GenAI tools to instructional design workflows and contexts such as working with faculty, subject matter experts, and streamlining internal online course review processes.

Join this dynamic session to stay abreast with how instructional designers use GenAI for course design and development best practices across online and digital learning environments!

John D. Solis, Ph.D.

Director of Online Learning & Curriculum Innovation at St. Mary's University

John Solis, Ph.D. has worked in higher education and instructional design for the past 24+ years. As the current Director of Online Learning & Curriculum Innovation at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX, he provides leadership, management, and direction in the development and support of online learning courses and programs and curriculum initiatives.

Dr. Solis is an enthusiastic, passionate, research/data-driven, transformational leader committed to student success, engagement, and providing access to student-centered learning opportunities through online, blended, and other flexible modalities--especially for working adults. He has taught through various faculty (including tenure-track) and leadership roles providing academic technology support and development services in higher education. As a lifelong learner, Dr. Solis embraces cross-functional collaboration and partnerships, faculty development, program development, teaching and learning with technology, artificial intelligence, online course design, and curriculum design/development -- all towards student success and engagement.

Feel free to connect with Dr. Solis on the topics of online and distance education, generative artificial intelligence, course design including OLC's OSCQR quality review rubric and Quality Matters standards, faculty development, competency-based curriculum development, instructional and learning design, experiential learning, and designing for adult learners (andragogy).

Trisha Garcia

Instructional Designer at St. Mary's University

Trisha Garcia

Instructional Designer at St. Mary's University