What is AI for learning design?

AI for learning design refers to using artificial intelligence to enhance course creation, learner engagement, and facilitation by automating tasks, suggesting pedagogical structures, and fostering interaction.

How does OpenLearning use AI for course creation?

OpenLearning uses AI to streamline course creation with tools like the AI Course Builder, which generates learning outcomes, course structures, and activities aligned with best practices.

What are the benefits of AI-powered facilitation tools?

AI-powered facilitation tools save educators time by suggesting discussion prompts, providing feedback, and encouraging collaboration, allowing them to focus on meaningful learner engagement.

How can AI help with engagement in online courses?

AI tools spark meaningful interactions through reflective questions, personalized feedback, and collaborative discussion starters, creating active learning communities.

How AI for Learning Design is Transforming Course Creation and Facilitation

By OpenLearning

December 19, 2024 min read

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising learning design, offering tools that streamline course creation, improve engagement, and maintain high educational standards. From accelerating workflows to sparking richer learner interactions, AI has become an indispensable tool for educators.

At the OpenLearning Forum 2024, we unveiled AI-powered innovations transforming how courses are built and facilitated. Curious to learn how these tools can revolutionise your learning design process? Let’s dive in.

Simplifying the Course Design Process

Creating a well-structured course traditionally demands significant time, effort, and expertise. At the OpenLearning Forum 2024, David Collien demonstrated how OpenLearning’s AI Course Builder accelerates this process and makes high-quality course design more accessible.

In just minutes, the tool generated a complete cybersecurity course tailored for health providers. It not only suggested modules and activities but also created visually engaging thumbnails—all aligned with established pedagogical frameworks and best practices.

Video: David demonstrated the AI Course Builder at the OpenLearning Forum 2024. Click here to watch.

By entering basic details—such as the course topic, target audience, and preferred communication style—the AI Course Builder can:

Generate a list of learning outcomes aligned with frameworks like Bloom’s Taxonomy, SOLO Taxonomy, and SEL competencies.
Suggest outcome-based activities such as tutorial exercises, role-playing scenarios, peer-sharing sessions, and crowdsourced challenges.
Provide relevant content including case studies, mathematical examples, and analogies.
Recommend optimal course structures, by organising modules, pages, and activities to support learners in achieving their outcomes.

Video: A short introduction to the OpenLearning AI Course Builder

Enhancing Engagement with AI Facilitation Tools

Fostering engagement is crucial to the success of every course, yet managing meaningful interactions across large learner groups can be challenging.

At the forum, OpenLearning unveiled the upcoming AI-powered facilitation tools, designed to address this need and elevate the quality of interactions in online courses.

Set to launch in 2025, these tools assist facilitators by:

Sparking discussions by suggesting reflective questions and facilitator prompts.
Providing thoughtful feedback options on learner contributions.
Encouraging collaboration through suggested critiques or discussion-starters..

As a sneak peek, David demonstrated how the AI could provide a facilitator with suggested feedback for a learner’s analogy comparing logic gates to toll booths, encouraging deeper reflection. By saving time for facilitators, these tools will enable educators to focus on creating meaningful learning experiences and nurturing active learning communities.

Screenshot: OpenLearning’s upcoming AI facilitation tool suggests comments in response to learners’ posts, which educators can edit as needed. Click here to watch the demonstration.

Automating Time-Consuming Tasks

The AI tools available on OpenLearning transform the way educators manage their time by automating repetitive yet essential tasks. This includes:

Generating quizzes and assessments tailored to specific learning outcomes.
Formatting course content for enhanced visual clarity and learner engagement.
Suggesting course structures and activities based on pedagogical best practices.

By reducing administrative overhead, OpenLearning’s AI-powered tools empower educators to focus on creating meaningful learning experiences and fostering learner success.

Practical Examples of AI in Action

At the OpenLearning Forum 2024, David showcased two applications of AI on the OpenLearning platform:

In course design, OpenLearning’s AI Course Builder transformed a simple prompt—”a cybersecurity course for health providers”—into a complete outline. The AI suggested learning objectives, outcomes, and modular structures aligned with best practices, ready for educators to refine.

Screenshot: Cybersecurity course outline generated by the OpenLearning AI Course Builder. Click here to watch the demonstration.

For facilitation, the upcoming AI-powered tools demonstrated how they support meaningful interactions. In one example, the AI suggested reflective feedback on a learner’s analogy, sparking deeper engagement and discussion.

Screenshot: The AI Facilitation tool suggests feedback for a learner’s post. Click here to watch the demonstration.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Learning Design

AI is changing the way we approach learning design, enabling educators to work smarter and focus on what matters most: creating impactful learning experiences. With OpenLearning’s AI for educators, you can streamline course creation, design engaging content, and support learners more effectively.

Ready to transform your course design process? Discover how OpenLearning’s AI-powered tools can revolutionise your workflow and improve the learning experience today.