In this episode of AI and the Changing Landscape of Instructional Design, host Julie Ann explores how three powerful AI tools—Todoist, Taskade’s Pomodoro Timer, and GetSound.ai—can revolutionize time management for busy professionals. Learn how to prioritize tasks effectively, boost focus with structured work intervals, and create distraction-free work environments using AI. Plus, hear how fictional instructional designer Aubrey turns a chaotic day into a highly productive one using these tools.
Listeners can view the accompanying presentation by clicking the link in the show notes!

In Part 2, guest hosts focus on the emerging skill of prompt engineering and its growing importance in instructional design. Listeners discover how strategic prompting transforms AI tools from passive assistants into powerful creative partners. The episode breaks down real-world examples and highlights how structured inputs yield better outputs—faster and with greater instructional impact. Returning to the story of Aubrey, we follow her evolution from AI user to AI collaborator as she creates a custom GPT that aligns with her company’s voice and training needs. This episode emphasizes how prompt engineering will define the future of instructional design in 2025 and beyond.

In this episode, host Julie Ann explores how 2024 marked a turning point in the instructional design field with the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Synthesia, and Claude. Listeners will learn how AI impacted each phase of the ADDIE model—from data analysis and content design to course development and evaluation. Through the fictional example of Aubrey, a healthcare instructional designer, the episode illustrates how effective prompting can turn generic AI output into engaging, learner-centered content. This episode lays the groundwork for understanding how instructional designers moved from AI curiosity to AI integration.