My response to the brief

Scoping and instructional design

To begin the development of this module I arranged a meeting with the client to discuss key factors such as:

• What key messaging they wanted to pull through within this module;

• Whether this was a deep dive into AI, or a light touch;

• What does the learner / apprentice need to do or know upon completing this module.

From this discussion I was able to ascertain that my client wanted the learner to have an awareness of AI and how to use it responsibly, but also how to leverage it to benefit them both in their apprenticeship and their job. As AI policy can vary per End-Point Assessment provider, it was decided that we wouldn’t go into a deep dive as to the ‘rules’ surrounding AI in apprenticeship submissions. Instead, signpost the learner to take responsibility in researching this based on their own EPA provider, whilst also making them aware of the risks involved in using AI.

The topic of AI can feel very overwhelming, therefore it was important to me that this eLearning feel very tangible, relevant and jargon free. As it can be such a nuanced topic, as how AI may benefit someone can be different between individuals, there was a big focus on reflection throughout this eLearning. Basic information was provided, such as an overview of the different uses of AI, but ‘stretch’, reflective style activities were then added to encourage the learner to reflect on how this information can be relevant to them.

An example being a downloadable PDF which instructs the learner to go and practice prompt writing.

Challenges

The main challenge when writing this module was to not add too much information and knowing when a deeper dive is needed. For example, a section entitled ‘everyday AI’ was added to introduce the eLearning. This was a light touch that defined what AI is, provided some examples of well-known AI such as Amazon Alexa or customer service chatbots and defined why having an awareness of AI is important. This section was only 5-minutes and had a downloadable activity at the end, should the learner want to research the different types of AI in more depth.

In contrast, a section entitled ‘AI and me’ challenges the learner to define how they can use AI to benefit them and explores how as an individual they can get the most out of AI. This section was around 10-minutes and was all about building the concept of AI adding value.

Writing a module with no prior content in place was tricky, but regular communication with the client, along with creating a detailed scoping document helped me to break down the eLearning into chunks and really get a feel for what was important to cover in the 30-minutes.

Another challenge with this subject matter is the longevity of it. AI is developing at a rapid pace, so there was a danger this module could become outdated quickly. This is why we focused less on the technology side of AI and more on the importance of the learner defining how they can integrate it into their everyday lives and apprenticeship studies in a way that adds value. The only ‘live’ document we added was the Genius AI policy, which could be easily re-uploaded should there be any changes to this in the future.