Aka, our toolkit for the AI & Learning Design Bootcamp
| Tools |
|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI): Known for its conversational ability and versatility in handling tasks ranging from brainstorming to detailed content creation and summarisation. 4o is great for most tasks, and its “deep research” function (o1) is increasingly powerful as a research assistant. |
| Claude 3.5 by Anthropic: Generally very popular with instructional designers who appreciate both the content and style of its outputs. Particularly strong on creative ideation & replicating tone of voice. |
| DeepSeek: Advanced open-source language model with exceptional efficiency, handling large context windows (up to 128,000 tokens) and excelling in reasoning, coding, and analysis. It competes with proprietary models like GPT-4 and Claude in performance, while emphasising cost-effective and accessible AI solutions. |
| Co-Pilot by Microsoft: Popular alternative to ChatGPT in the corporate setting, with similar (although less powerful) functionality. |
| Perplexity: Increasingly popular with instructional designers as the go-to general use AI tool, in both “pro search” mode (for general tasks) and “deep research” mode (for research & report writing) modes. |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Defining the Problem You’re Trying to Solve | Claude, ChatGPT: Analyse qualitative learner & business data (e.g. performance reports, Slack & Teams channels) to surface needs and refine problem statements and goals. |
| Defining the Optimal Solution | Consensus, Perplexity, STORM: Research instructional strategies to solve identified problems. |
| Running a Needs Analysis | Consensus, Perplexity, STORM: Identify optimal methods and question types to surface the data you need. |
ChatGPT, Claude: Create surveys and analyse qualitative data.
Julius AI: Analyse quantitative data like performance metrics & survey responses.
Fathom: Record and transcribe learner interviews. | | Creating Learner Personas | Consensus, Perplexity, STORM: Research best practices for persona development.
Julius AI: Segment learners into personas based on data.
ChatGPT 4o: Build “virtual learners” to give feedback on your designs as you go. | | Determining Requirements | Consensus, Perplexity, STORM: Identify essential skills for business and learning goals.
Claude, ChatGPT: Break down skills into sub-concepts and create knowledge & skills maps.
Whimsical, Gamma: Visualise knowledge and skill maps. | | Creating an Analysis Report | Consensus, Perplexity, STORM: Compile research-based evidence to support findings.
Julius AI: Generate visuals such as charts and graphs to present findings.
Gamma: Design visually engaging presentations tailored to stakeholders.
Claude, ChatGPT: Organise findings into structured sections and anticipate stakeholder feedback. |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Research & Content Curation | Perplexity (Deep Research), ChatGPT (Deep Research) Research Rabbit, Consensus, Deep Seek: Discover and organise domain knowledge/ resources aligned with learning objectives. Also, find the optimal instructional strategy or strategies to achieve your goal for your learner. |
STORM: Create research summaries tailored to your needs / learners and goal, e.g. give me a summary of research on X for Y purpose | | Content Summarisation and Ideation | ChatGPT 4o, Claude, Co-Pilot: Generate summaries of research, and brainstorm design ideas based on the research. | | Objectives Writing | ChatGPT 4o, Claude, Co-Pilot: Use structured prompting to write and sequence optimal learning objectives, based on information about your learners, goals etc. | | Content & Activity Design | ChatGPT 4o, Claude, Co-Pilot: Use structured prompting to turn your objectives into evidence-based recommendations for content and activity, based on information from your research about optimal instructional strategies, methods etc. Create flow charts to visualise the high level learner journey. | | Simulating Feedback & Needs Analysis | ChatGPT 4o: Simulate learner interactions to validate assumptions and refine content scope. | | Presenting & Prototyping | Whimsical: Create flowcharts and diagrams to visualise the course flow structure.
Gamma: Develop engaging presentation visuals to present your design ideas and rationale.
V0 by Vercel: Rapidly prototype online learning experiences for feedback.
Replit Agent: Rapidly prototype apps. |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Research Support for Best Practices in Development | Perplexity (Deep Research), ChatGPT (Deep Research) Research Rabbit, Consensus, Deep Seek: Use research to understand the most effective modes of delivery (video, audio, live class etc) for specific sorts of objectives and learners. |
| Image Creation | Ideogram, Google FX Images, Gemini 2.0 Flash (image generation) and https://flux1.ai/: Create custom images from text inputs. |
Gemini 2.0 Flash (image generation): upload and edit existing images & get enhanced control to edit AI-generated images.
ChatGPT 4o, Whimsical and Napkin AI: Create images, diagrams, infographics & graphs from text inputs. | | Video Creation & Editing | Sora, Lumen5, CapCut, Runway: Create AI-generated videos or convert scripts into video.
InVideo, Veed, Pictory: Use AI to create “audio slideshows”.
Synthesia, HeyGen, Colossyan: Generate AI-powered talking head videos for personalised instruction. | | Audio Creation & Editing | ElevenLabs: Create realistic AI-generated voiceovers / narration.
Suno & Google Music FX: generate music / sounds. | | Slideshows | Gamma: Use AI to rapidly turn documents or pasted text into presentations. | | Optimising & Refining Content | ChatGPT, Claude: Review your content using structured prompts which include quality standards for AI to use as a rubric to score and give feedback on your design, e.g. accessibility standards, UDL. | | Prototyping and Testing | V0 by Vercel: Rapidly prototype online learning experiences for feedback.
Replit Agent: Rapidly prototype apps. | | Translation | DeepL: free to try, this is known to be one of the most reliable translation tools available |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Designing & Running Evaluation | Perplexity (Deep Research), ChatGPT (Deep Research) Research Rabbit, Consensus, Deep Seek: Gather evidence-based insights on evaluation techniques. |
ChatGPT, Claude: Create surveys and analyse qualitative data. Create pre-and post course activities / task to gather insights on impact.
Julius AI: Analyse quantitative course data like attendance records and performance data and build detailed RoI reports.
Fathom: Record and transcribe learner interviews. | | Insight Generation and Summarisation | ChatGPT 4o: Simulate your learners and evaluate the impact of your learning experience before you release it. | | Summarising & Visualising Findings | ChatGPT, Claude & Gamma: Create concise reports for stakeholders, highlighting key metrics and areas for improvement. |
Want to test the impact of AI on the speed and quality of your work with me? Apply for a place on the AI & Learning Design Bootcamp.
©️Dr Philippa Hardman (April, 2025)