Jennifer Instructional Designer

Exploring AI Platforms for Education: Enhancing Teaching, Learning, and Design Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education, offering tools that extend instructional design, automate routine tasks, and personalize learning experiences. eLearning instructional designers can combine our talent with by empowering faculty. Together, we can achiever  meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact. From adaptive content creation to intelligent tutoring systems, today’s AI platforms provide powerful opportunities for innovation in digital pedagogy. Below is a review of five AI platforms currently reshaping educational practice. 1.  Canvas AI: Course-Building with Intelligence Canvas LMS has introduced native AI tools that assist educators in drafting modules, quizzes, and rubrics. The AI Course Builder can automatically align assignments with outcomes and Bloom’s taxonomy levels, saving designers significant setup time. Its conversational interface allows use...

Exploring Alma:  A Unified Learning and Student Information Platform Alma is an integrated Student Information System (SIS) and Learning Management System (LMS) that unites classroom instruction, administrative management, and communication into a single digital ecosystem. Teachers and instructional designers can use Alma to create and organize assignments, quizzes, rubrics, and discussion activities , while administrators manage attendance, transcripts, and student data. Alma’s dashboard provides a clear overview of grades and progress, helping instructors align assessments with learning outcomes. Its analytics tools and standards-based grading system make it especially valuable for data-informed instructional planning. From an instructional design perspective, Alma’s advantages extend beyond organization. Educators can embed multimedia learning assets,  such as infographics, short instructional videos, and formative assessments , directly into lessons and assignments. The ...

  Meyer's Principles of Multimedia Learning   When teaching asynchronously, it's essential to design experiences that actively connect learners with the material, even in the absence of real-time face to face interaction. Meyer's principles strengthen structure and consistency in the online learning environment. In Multimedia Learning (Cambridge University Press, 2001), Richard E. Mayer introduces twelve evidence-based principles that guide the effective design and organization of multimedia instruction. These principles create effective learning by minimizing cognitive load by using multimedia effectively, so that content is coherent, consistent, and engaging.  1. Multimedia  Principle   Mayer's Multimedia Principle states that people learn better from words and pictures than from words alone.  People learn best from a combination of words and pictures. Instructional designers should use words (text or narration) and visuals (images, animations, or video...

   Welcome to My Blog: Exploring Teaching, Learning, and Memory As an educator and instructional designer, I’ve spent years immersed in the art and science of  teaching and learning . My background includes being a higher education faculty instructor for over 20 years, working as an instructional designer, faculty trainer and supporting instructors. This has given me plenty of opportunity in researching how people  absorb, retain, and apply knowledge  effectively. Through this blog, I explore the intersection of  education, cognition, and memory , uncovering practical strategies that enhance learning experiences, and increase  human intelligence . I pose the questions: Why should learners slow down to learn faster ? What is  meaningful learning ? How is heightened learner engagement rooted in the use of  memory ?  Teaching isn’t just about delivering content—it’s about  how learners process information, engage with material, and con...

  Increase Learning Accountability in Writing Instruction: Strengthening Cognitive Connections The rise of AI-generated writing presents a new challenge for instructors: ensuring that students actively engage in the learning process rather than simply outsourcing their work to artificial intelligence. When students rely too heavily on AI tools, they risk bypassing the cognitive processes necessary for meaningful learning , leading to a lack of critical thinking, creativity, and writing development. To counteract this, instructors must design writing activities that require authentic cognitive engagement and personal investment, ensuring that students remain active participants in their own learning. 1) Organic Writing Samples One key strategy is to ground writing assignments in organic, real-time experiences that AI cannot replicate. Instructors can begin by incorporating diagnostic writing samples at the start of class, allowing them to track students' authentic writing progress ...