Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Taming the AI Beast!

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This post is provided by your genial guest blogger, Daniel Liestman, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

Rather than fretting about AI taking your job, Boysen (2024) suggests using AI to enhance your job. AI algorithms can analyze data on colleague’s performance, preferences, and progress to generate customized content and exercises. Opportunities include personalizing learning paths.  Adaptive learning platforms dynamically adjust the content based on learner responses.   With its ability to sort through swaths of information, AI can curate content.  Wanna play a game? AI can help.  AI predictive analytics can preemptively identify skills gaps.  Chatbots provide learners with a guide on the side in their learning experience. AI also offers ongoing training rather than periodic sessions.

Boysen (2024) offers some not yet realized possibilities for T&D AI in the not-too-distant future.  Her suggestions are thusly anything but reassuring.  Each of these applications are tasks AI can do quicker and probably better than mere mortals.  Frankly, I wonder if T&D will even be needed as AI can perform duties in which we train learners. The truth tends to lie somewhere between the idea that the status quo will prevail, and the dark dystopian predictions of displaced humans rendered useless by AI.  As long as AI is subject to our direction, things should be fine…shouldn’t they?

 Boysen, S. (2024, January 5). Harnessing the power of AI in training and development. ATD. https://www.td.org/atd-blog/harnessing-the-power-of-ai-in-training-and-development

Ask not what AI is going to do to you, but what you are going to do with AI.

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This post is provided to you by genial and gracious guest blogger, Daniel Liestman, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

Before seeking to incorporate AI into training, one must first consider how to engage with AI in the design process itself.  AI can assist in conducting and assessing the learning needs analysis.   AI can create eLearning course outlines as well as build content. AI can also assist in writing introductions, crafting transitions, or crafting conclusions.  AI can also generate Level 1 and 2 activities and quizzes.  AI generated visuals can also be quite engaging!  Beyond design, AI can evaluate instructional design content.  AI to stays current with the latest trends in instructional design.

Most TD blogs on AI consider incorporating it into training. This blog realizes this is not the goal.  Numerous examples are offered which will make the most of free AI sites and tools.  This blog is iterative and provides important background information from previous entries to make for a more complete learning experience.  At the same time, none of these tools are fool proof.  Chat GPT3.5 is offered as a tool for summarizing a discussion and acknowledges some light proof-reading may be needed.  Light-proofing—HA!  Last time I tried it to summarize, I got nonsense reduced to gibberish. 

Proceed with caution.

Robertson, D. (2024). Improve your instructional design workflow with these 8 practical AI tool uses. Neovation. https://www.neovation.com/learn/87-8-practical-ai-tool-uses-for-your-instructional-design-workflow

Emerging Technologies and eLearning-Raising the Bar

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Danielle Victoriano, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development program.

E-Learning is evolving to create the ultimate self-driven and self-paced yet interactive design. It is emerging into an interactive model that is intuitive for the learners’ needs. Is this what learners need and want? Will this aid them in achieving their goals? Mangalvedhe examines this in this 2023 article. The author examines how emerging technologies can influence and transform learning and development moving forward. In the article, the author examines how artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, gamification, mobile learning and microlearning will change how we interact and respond within the learning model to a more profound level than we have in eLearning.

This is an excellent article for content creators and instructional designers that are seeking ways to provide interaction and take learning to an application level. The author examines in detail how each technology can be integrated into instructional design. Mangalvedhe (2023) also discusses how each technology can fulfill and appeal to the various needs of learners. Examples are provided to suggest how these technologies can be executed successfully in the created content. These examples will be a starting point to consider using these advanced technologies that workplaces are already utilizing to raise the bar of flexible and efficient learning while expediting the upskilling process.  

References

Mangalvedhe, A. (2023, January 12). The emerging technologies in Elearning. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/the-emerging-technologies-in-elearning

Technologies Changing Learning Landscapes

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Brianna Richardson, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

Cutting-edge technologies are making education more accessible and engaging. “How Modern Technology Is Reshaping the E-Learning Industry,” by Simon Moser (2021) for Entrepreneur, gives us an overview of which technologies are challenging traditional learning models to change. The author discusses the impacts of innovations like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and virtual reality. Algorithms let educators and institutions gain insight about students by analyzing large sets of data. Moser highlights how artificial intelligence is being used to predict learning needs and customize training plans. He also explores the ways virtual reality is being used to create interactive learning experiences that increase engagement. 

I recommend this article to those seeking a comprehensive overview of the ways that current technology is impacting e-learning. It provides insight on current technologies being used to identify topics that students need help with, and personalize the learning experience (Moser, 2021). However, the analysis did not mention the issues that this technology may pose in its wide-spread adoption. There is still much to be learned about the implications of storing large amounts of data and how to create algorithms that are unbiased. The reader should consider these issues with a critical lens and continue to learn about the technology.

Reference

Moser, S. (2021, January 10). How modern technology is reshaping the e-learning industry. Entrepreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/science-technology/how-modern-technology-is-reshaping-the-e-learning-industry/361812

Links to an external site.

ChatGPT: What’s it doing for/to me?

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This post is brought to you by your genial novice blogger, Daniel Liestman, a graduate student in the University of St. Francis’ (Joliet, IL) MS in Training and Development program.

Last November, Open AI released an advanced chatbot like no other.  ChatGPT (generative pre-trained transformer) draws on Internet information.  It’s RLHF, or Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback component, however, provides the human-like quality.  While ChatGPT may stir anxiety in some, it can be used as an effective learning tool.  For example, how might learners construct an AI generated argument and then analyze and critique it?  Further, how might learners hone their own questioning skills to spark discovery? Such AI can also foster individualized learning as well as doing administrative work for instructors while also doing instructional planning.

Stephens, an educational consultant with degrees from Harvard and Stanford, has no idea what ChatGPT bodes. But neither do we.  AI, for her, has a place in learning, but also in reducing instructors’ grunt work. I recall the story of a professor who audio taped a lecture for a day he was out.  While the reel-to-reel played atop the lectern, a cassette recorder on each student’s desk taped the lecture. While the technology has changed,  AI may well imitate this cautionary tale at the moment expense of learning.

Stephens, D. (2023, May 16). ChatGPT examples to use artificial intelligence in education. Nearpod Blog.  https://nearpod.com/blog/chatgpt-ai-artificial-intelligence/

Holograms: Training and The Future of Education

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Brandon Rinker, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development program

Hologram or augmented reality (AR) is a computer-generated environment from real world surroundings.  Because of the design, it is helping educators and training instructors use this technology in the classroom and workplace environment.  Holograms can be used in the classroom to help students with all topics from history to science.  Continue reading →

Training Transformation Through Technology

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Dianna Doyle, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, MS in Training and Development program.

Five technologies are transforming the way businesses and organizations design, deliver, and evaluate learning. These technologies can be integrated into training and development programs in innovative, practical ways.  Continue reading →

AI: It’s learning from us, so we better learn it!

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This post is provided by guest blogger, George Skerritt, graduate student of the University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development program.

In very much the same way market research is conducted and improved through the evaluation of search engine behavior and demographics, educators can harness the power of AI as part of the learning and development process.  Continue reading →