Stop burying your head in the sand – it’s time to talk technology and AI learning

Make way for ChatGPT!

My LinkedIn has been alive the past few weeks with noise around ChatGPT. This elusive new artificial intelligence (AI) generated platform has left the internet buzzing over the impact this technology is going to have on the future, more specifically the future of education.

So naturally, I just had to give it a go.

But first, for those who don’t know, here’s a quick round up as to what ChatGPT actually is. In its most basic form, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) powered conversation tool, you open it up, ask it questions and it answers.

So wait, is it like an online chatroom or virtual assistant then?

Well, kind of. ChatGPT is a form of artificial intelligence (not the scary robot kind!) that has been trained and designed to hold ‘normal’ conversations. It can analyse and solve problems, answer questions and more. However, it does not work in real time, meaning the data used to give ChatGPT its ‘knowledge,’ is not continuously updating, therefore it works based only on what it knows currently. (I’m not an AI expert so do go and do your own research on this!)

Phew, there’s the techy bit out of the way so now on to the fun stuff! Let’s ask it some questions.

For this I put on my instructional designer hat and started off with, ‘write learning objectives for a training session on psychological safety.’

And…I was pleasantly surprised with the response! Verbs in line with Bloom’s Taxonomy were used, the objectives were clear and concise and covered all the topics you’d expect from a session around psychological safety.

Pretty cool, I thought.

Okay, so what about for eLearning, could this technology give me a boost of inspiration when designing my slides? I had to find out.

My next question, well more so demand, looked like this, “give me inspiration for an eLearning slide.”

Once again, I was pleasantly surprised with the result. It offered me a suggestion for an image, a title and content. A neat bit of technology that can certainly come in handy, when I’ve been stuck down the rabbit hole for the past 2 hours, searching for an image.

So what does this mean for instructional design?

Well first off, let’s get a couple of facts straight. Despite what so-and-so from LinkedIn says, ChatGPT will not be taking your job anytime soon.

How do I know this? Well, let’s not forget AI is already integrated into Learning and Development. We have AI generated voiceover’s, characters, and databases, such as Learner Experience platforms that generate training based on knowledge inputted by the user.

So I wouldn’t worry that this next generation of AI is going to be booting you out of your seat.

But I do think it’s going to shake up the industry in a good way. By this I mean pulling Learning and Development professionals who are stuck in ‘the good ol days,’ out of their slumber and force them to consider the fact that technology can actually be used for positive change.

There’s also no denying that budgets are tight and needing to be stretched even further now. If there’s a way in which a process can be streamlined, causing less work or stress for an already overworked individual, then I’m all for it!

Still feeling a little unsure? Let me reassure you…

Let’s look at augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) as an example. Not too long ago these two forms of technology became incredibly popular. We saw the rise in AR being integrated into smart phones, and the development of games using VR headsets such as Oculus Rift. So, naturally, murmurs began in Learning and Development as to how we could integrate this immersive and flashy technology into training.

Take the Metaverse for example. Facilitated by AR and VR technology, it aims to provide immersive experiences or worlds, that enhance social connection and is often used in multiplayer gaming. Sounds like it could be fantastic for shared Learning experiences, right?

However, upon further scope, many Learning and Development providers realised that not only is this type of technology pricey, it also requires new equipment, is difficult to update should content need amending and many learners don’t really know how to use it.

The result? A shiny new technology, which at the moment, doesn’t add enough value to learning to warrant the cost.

Does that mean we should forget about it and never consider it in the future Absolutely not. Technology is going to advance whether we like it or not. Pretending it’s not happening will leave you left behind delivering outdated methods, whilst others innovate.

Knowledge is power.

Now I’m not saying jump on every new technology and suddenly start writing all your lesson plans using ChatGPT. Instead arm yourself with the facts and then as the instructional designer, or learning professional, ask yourself where / if it can add value.

If it doesn’t add value now, then let it be. Keep yourself in the loop for any updates and keep your mind open for the possibilities of using the technology in the future, but don’t be a magpie jumping to the next shiny thing, just because it’s shiny.

That being said, I do think ChatGPT has the potential to streamline and enhance certain areas of instructional design. It could be used to generate new ideas surrounding slide design or learning activities and provide simple templates for lesson plans. These small elements of writing a training session, can often be those that take up most of your brain space and time.

Technology isn’t you

What AI lacks is that it isn’t you. It doesn’t have your experiences, creativity, and thoughts. Sure, it’s knowledgeable, it can provide the facts. But it won’t personalise a training course to your clients needs, it won’t brand that eLearning for you, or develop it. Sure, you can get platforms that will ‘claim’ to do these things, but if everyone has access to this ‘personalisation,’ I argue, is it really personalised?

ChatGPT can provide the bones for instructional design, it’s up to you to provide the flesh, the flair, the funky pink hair do. The parts that will make your training stand out from the rest.

It isn’t without risk…

Whilst I’m not concerned that AI will be taking over all of Learning and Development anytime soon, what does concern me is that this form of free (at the time of writing this blog) technology, means it is at the disposal of everyone. Therefore, those without any knowledge of instructional design, could simply throw together a piece of training based on what ChatGPT tells them. This would be without considering learning retention, leaner experience, or your audience.

Does this mean we will see individuals within Learning and Development being tasked with writing training, without any instructional design experience? Potentially.

I argue this has taken place with platforms such as Articulate Rise. A fantastic, accessible platform that allows the easy creation of eLearning, without the need for complicated software. However, too many times now I have seen Subject Matter Experts (SME) and alike, throw all of their knowledge and content into a Rise package, with little to no consideration for the learner.

The result? Potentially a cost saving due to the SME writing their own training and something that looks good overall, but an output that is long, boring and doesn’t consider learning methodologies.

To get to the point, in the wrong hands, this ‘time saving,’ technology could actually cause training to be less successful.

Okay, enough rambling. So how do we decide how and when we should be integrating tech into learning? By identifying the value it will bring.

Here’s 5 handy tips to get you started;

1. Do your research – allocate a couple of hours to find out how the technology works, what does it do? How does it function? What’s the point of it?

2. Have a play around – if a free trial is available go and have a play. How does the technology feel, is it user friendly? Is it online based, or do you need to buy a software add on? What’s the ‘wow’ factor?

3. Write down some initial thoughts – start a mind map, brain dump, or just jot down some notes. Focus on identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the software, but also any key features or areas that have caught your interest.

4. Compare and contrast – begin thinking about your training offering, your audience and current setup. There’s no point introducing AI into your training if your learners are far from tech savvy and your platform is a dusty old desktop computer running an LMS from 10 years ago. Let’s be realistic here.

5. Define the value – Be specific, write down the positives and negatives of integrating this technology, identify any challenges and costs. From here it’s up to you as the expert in your department and field, to decide whether this technology will add value to your training. If yes, then great! Press ahead! If no, then be sure to keep all your notes and thoughts and revisit at a later date.

And remember, it’s okay to decide to give it a miss for now. Great training is based on foundations of excellent instructional design, the technology should be there to enhance, not lead.

And perhaps most importantly, stay curious and keep your mind open.