Discover how a small team leveraged generative AI to build the Open LMS Academy. This case study shares reproducible workflows for drafting technical walkthroughs and H5P activities, providing a blueprint for scaling course development without sacrificing pedagogical quality in resource-constrained environments.

Digital learning teams are increasingly tasked with "doing more with less"—expanding training catalogs and rolling out comprehensive academies with dwindling time and personnel. This case study examines the development of the Open LMS Academy, a multi-course initiative designed to train global clients on complex LMS features and administrative workflows. Faced with the challenge of building dozens of modules across diverse tracks—including Instructor Orientation, Admin Orientation, and advanced "a la carte" deep dives—the development team leveraged generative AI as a primary force multiplier.

This session will provide a "behind-the-scenes" look at the specific AI-integrated workflows used to accelerate the instructional design process. Participants will explore how AI was utilized to brainstorm complex pedagogical use cases, draft detailed step-by-step technical walkthroughs, and generate creative ideas for interactive H5P activities.

Furthermore, we will share critical "human-in-the-loop" strategies used to ensure accuracy and pedagogical integrity. Attendees will learn how to manage common AI pitfalls, such as "hidden formatting" issues and technical hallucinations, while maintaining a consistent professional tone. By the end of the session, participants will have a reproducible blueprint for integrating AI into their own rapid development cycles without sacrificing quality.

Session Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify specific stages within the instructional design lifecycle—from objective drafting to H5P activity ideation—where generative AI can most effectively serve as a force multiplier.
- Execute strategies for drafting highly technical, multi-step walkthroughs and scenario-based use cases for complex software features using targeted AI prompts.
- Apply pedagogical guardrails and quality-assurance checks to AI-generated content to prevent technical inaccuracies and "hidden formatting" issues common in LMS environments.
- Evaluate the resource-saving impact of AI in small-team environments through the lens of a real-world academy rollout.

Ismael "Izzy" Lara

Senior Manager - Onboarding and Adoption at Open LMS