Spoiler alert: It’s good, but not THAT good. Not yet, anyway.
Educators and instructional designers often work under tight budgets and even tighter timelines. Creating high-quality learning materials takes time, and when resources are limited, the pressure to deliver quickly without sacrificing quality is real. That’s why I decided to experiment with AI for this course. I used only Microsoft Copilot, since I have institutional access and it’s one of the stronger general-purpose generative AI tools.
AI as a Creative Partner
Not bad! One of the benefits I found was idea generation. Copilot suggested some approaches or variations on my ideas that I might not have considered on my own. It was especially helpful for creating text for my interactives, learning outcomes aligned with Blooms Taxonomy, and feedback suggestions for the activities. You can see examples on my eLearning Modules page. It also excels at refining text for different reading levels, styles, and tones. Image creation, however, is hit-or-miss, especially when text is involved. Check out the flowcharts Copilot produced for my Twine activity to see what I mean.
The Limitations You Can’t Ignore
AI isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know my learners, my institution’s policies, or the cultural context I’m working in. Its training data can be outdated and biased. Suggestions often feel generic, and accuracy always needs to be verified. There’s also the risk of leaning too heavily on AI and losing the human touch that makes learning meaningful.
And then there are ethical questions: How do we handle attribution and copyright for AI-generated content? What about the environmental and human labour costs behind these technologies?
AI Is a Tool, Not a Replacement
For me, AI is just that—a tool. It speeds up the process and sparks ideas, but it doesn’t replace my judgment or expertise. I always review, adapt, and make sure the final product reflects my learners’ needs. The best results come when AI’s efficiency and creativity are combined with human insight and empathy.
Looking Ahead
AI is evolving fast, and its capabilities will keep changing. New tools and techniques will emerge, making ongoing experimentation and reflection essential. Educators and designers should explore, assess what works, and share insights. By approaching AI as a dynamic, developing technology, we can harness its potential while staying true to the human-centred principles that make learning meaningful.