| Tools |
|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI): Renowned for its conversational ability and versatility in handling tasks ranging from brainstorming to detailed content creation and summarisation. |
| Claude by Anthropic: Focuses on creativity, coherence, and the ability to generate structured outputs like flowcharts, while analysing documents. Generally very popular with instructional designers who appreciate both the content and style of its outputs. |
| Gemini by Google: Specialised in handling large datasets, with an emphasis on processing and interpreting information, as well as generating innovative ideas. |
| 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 4o in the corporate setting, with very similar functionality. |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Defining the Problem You’re Trying to Solve | Claude, ChatGPT: Use structured prompts to 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 methods and questions for analysis. |
ChatGPT, Claude: Create surveys and analyse qualitative data.
Julius AI: Analyse quantitative data like performance metrics and survey responses.
Fathom: Record and transcribe learner interviews.
| | Creating Learner Personas | Julius AI: Segment learners into personas based on data.
Claude, ChatGPT: Develop personas with ZPD and simulate persona-specific responses.
Consensus, Perplexity, STORM: Research best practices for persona development. | | Determining Requirements | Consensus, Perplexity, STORM: Identify essential skills for business and learning goals.
Claude, ChatGPT: Break down skills into sub-concepts and create detailed task lists.
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 etc: Organise findings into structured sections and anticipate stakeholder feedback. |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Research & Content Curation | Perplexity, Research Rabbit & Consensus: 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 by Stanford: 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, Claude etc: Generate summaries of research, and brainstorm design ideas based on the research.
| | Objectives Writing | ChatGPT, Claude etc: Use structured prompting to write and sequence optimal learning objectives, based on information about your learners, goals etc. | | Content & Activity Design | ChatGPT, Claude etc: 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 | GPT-4: 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. |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Research Support for Best Practices in Development | Perplexity, Consensus, STORM by Stanford: 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 and https://flux1.ai/: Create custom images from text inputs. |
ChatGPT 4o, Whimsical and Napkin AI: Create diagrams & 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: 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 & Tome: Use AI to rapidly turn documents or pasted text into presentations. | | Optimising & Refining Content | ChatGPT, Claude etc: 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. | | Translation | DeepL: free to try, this is known to be one of the most reliable transation tools available |
| Function | Tools |
|---|---|
| Designing & Running Evaluation | STORM by Stanford, Perplexity, Consensus: Gather evidence-based insights on evaluation techniques. Example: "Explore methods for measuring learner engagement during online courses." |
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.
Fathom: Record and transcribe learner interviews. | | Insight Generation and Summarisation | GPT-4: Simulate learner outcomes and summarise evaluation findings before launch by having AI simulate learner responses to the course materials and activities. | | Summarising & Visualising Findings | ChatGPT, Claude & Gamma: Create concise reports for stakeholders, highlighting key metrics and areas for improvement. |
©️Dr Philippa Hardman (2025)