Recap
Elevate Your Course Design: AI, Learning Science, and Human Expertise in Action
Higher education institutions are under pressure to scale quality learning design without sacrificing student engagement or instructional integrity. That was the central theme of our recent webinar, Elevate Your Design: AI, Learning Science, and Human Expertise in Action.
Led by Brett Christie, Ph.D., VP for Educational Innovation, and Sarah Wood, Director of Operations for Design Services, the session explored how academic teams can leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance course development, streamline design processes, and elevate learning outcomes.
“We’re not just talking about moving faster. We’re talking about building better,” said Dr. Christie.
AI in Higher Education: Beyond Speed, Toward Strategy
The webinar drew a key distinction between using AI to accelerate course design (e.g., increasing speed and efficiency) and using AI to elevate design quality (e.g., enabling creativity, personalization, and pedagogical depth).
Polls from attendees revealed top use cases:
- Saving time on repetitive tasks
- Generating creative ideas for content and assessments
- Supporting instructional designers as a “creative companion”
“AI works best not as a shortcut, but as a collaborator,” Wood explained. “It can bring more humanity to learning design when paired with human expertise.”
Where AI Adds Value in Course Design
Throughout the webinar, several key areas emerged where AI can provide tangible support:
- Brainstorming and content generation based on course objectives
- Creating structured drafts for modules, activities, and assessments
- Maintaining design consistency across large programs and departments
Still, the presenters emphasized that AI doesn’t replace academic insight—it enhances it.
“You’re still in the driver’s seat,” Christie reminded attendees. “AI can offer support, but your expertise shapes the final product.”
Real-World Use Cases: AI + Learning Science in Action
During the session, attendees saw how Alchemy’s AI-enabled design system, Curie, supports institutions in making scalable, high-quality course development a reality. The live demo showcased how Curie scaffolds key instructional tasks while keeping academic teams in control of tone, alignment, and learning outcomes.
Examples included:
- Aligning assessments with Bloom’s Taxonomy
- Generating multimedia content with accessibility in mind
- Drafting course elements for rapid iteration and personalization
In each case, AI helped reduce redundancy while freeing up time for teams to focus on student-centered innovation—all while preserving academic rigor.
Actionable Strategies to Start Today
To close the session, attendees were encouraged to:
- Identify low-risk areas to test AI-supported design
- Use AI for ideation and drafting—not final content
- Involve multiple stakeholders to refine workflows and uphold quality
A final takeaway: when used thoughtfully, AI can help institutions scale course design while staying grounded in learning science and human-centered practices.
Want to go further?
If you missed the live discussion, you can watch the full recording on our YouTube to gain deeper insights and actionable strategies. And if you’re curious about how Curie can help your team streamline and scale course development, explore the platform here or contact us for a demo.
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