In the ever-evolving world of higher education, the need to continually refresh and redesign modules can often feel overwhelming. But this is where generative AI comes into play, offering educators and learning designers a new approach to revamping their courses. Far from being a replacement for human creativity, AI acts as a co-creator, helping streamline the module redesign process and unlocking new ways to engage with content and pedagogy.
Rethinking Module Design: How AI Can Help
While colleagues have already written their module learning outcomes, the next step is to refine assessments and create resources that align with these outcomes and ensure they remain relevant and impactful for students. This is where AI proves to be a valuable partner. By generating initial drafts of course content, such as quizzes, case studies, or even assessment ideas, AI enables academics to focus more on refining these resources and aligning them with their established learning objectives.
For example, when you’re redesigning a module, generative AI can assist by creating an array of potential case studies that fit within a particular discipline. It can also help you rethink how to structure your lessons, offering alternative ways to present complex topics or scaffold learning activities. The result? A more streamlined, creative process that saves time while ensuring quality.
AI as a Co-Design Partner
Embracing AI as a co-design partner allows educators to experiment with new ways of delivering content. For instance, you might be rethinking the format of a module traditionally delivered through lectures and looking to introduce more interactive, student-centred activities. By using AI to generate learning activity ideas or to develop reflection prompts, you can quickly build a bank of fresh approaches to consider in your redesign.
When paired with your expertise, AI-generated suggestions can spark new ideas, making it easier to innovate within the constraints of time and resources. Instead of starting from scratch, AI gives you a solid foundation from which to iterate, ensuring the module stays relevant and engaging.
Crafting Effective Prompts to Guide AI
The key to using AI effectively in module design lies in how we guide it. The more thought and detail we put into crafting our prompts, the better the results. While short, clear prompts can be helpful, taking the time to create longer, more specific prompts often leads to richer, more meaningful outputs. A well-detailed prompt gives AI the context it needs to generate content that aligns closely with your objectives, whether it’s designing case studies, assessments, or learning activities.
For instance, when you’re designing a module, a simple prompt like “Generate a case study on renewable energy policies in developing countries” might give you something useful, but a more detailed prompt can yield much better results. Instead, try something like this:
- Prompt: “Generate a detailed case study on renewable energy policies in developing countries. Focus on social, economic, and environmental impacts, using examples from at least three countries. Highlight both successes and challenges, and ensure the tone is academic but accessible for undergraduates.”
This added detail gives the AI more direction, allowing it to produce content that’s not only relevant but also aligned with your teaching style and course needs.
The same goes for assessment design. A short prompt might work, but adding context and detail can give you something much more valuable. For example:
- Short Prompt: “Design an assessment on the ethical implications of AI in healthcare.”
- Detailed Prompt: “Create an assessment where students are tasked with writing a 2,000-word essay critically evaluating the ethical implications of AI in healthcare. Include a focus on potential benefits, risks, and societal impacts. Prompt them to reflect on specific case studies or real-world examples, aligning the assessment with the module outcome ‘Develop a critical understanding of AI ethics in healthcare’.”
And for those looking to integrate AI tools into student tasks, you can take it a step further:
- AI-Informed Assessment Prompt: “Design an assessment where students input a dataset (e.g., climate data or economic indicators) into an AI platform to generate predictive models or analytical content. Students should then critically analyse the AI-generated output, discussing its accuracy, limitations, and biases. The assessment should include a written report comparing AI-generated content with traditional research methods and reflecting on the ethical implications of relying on AI for data-driven insights.”
By using detailed prompts, you can guide AI to create content that is not only relevant but also thought-provoking and aligned with your learning outcomes. The more specific you are, the better the AI can tailor its responses to meet the needs of your students and your module.
Saving Time Without Sacrificing Quality
The traditional process of module design and redesign can be time-consuming. AI helps to mitigate this by generating the raw materials for educators to refine. For example, AI can assist in creating a range of discussion topics, essay questions, or even entire lesson plans, providing a first draft that you can adjust to suit your particular needs.
This doesn’t just save time, but also ensures that your energy is focused on what really matters, ensuring that the content is pedagogically sound and aligned with the intended learning outcomes. By allowing AI to take on the more routine tasks, such as generating content ideas or drafting questions, you free up time to enhance the quality and relevance of your modules.
Keeping the Human Touch
While AI is a powerful tool, it’s essential to remember that the heart of any module redesign is human expertise. AI can assist with content creation and offer alternative perspectives, but the educator’s role in contextualising and tailoring this content to the specific needs of students is irreplaceable. The goal is not to hand over the reins to AI but to use it as a collaborative partner—enhancing what you’re already doing, not replacing it.
When used effectively, AI can be an invaluable aid in module redesign, providing the structure and resources needed to create more dynamic and engaging learning experiences. The key is finding the right balance between AI-generated content and human insight, ensuring that your students benefit from both innovation and experience.