Week 2 - Group 1 Discussion

Hi everyone! 

The following is the link the course I created within Rise: 

https://share.articulate.com/svUwMU99sWBR8dqcnCJse

1. Share 3 changes you made to the Rise AI Course Draft to improve learner engagement. Why did you make those changes?
• Refined the tone and clarity of AI-generated content
• After generating the initial draft with Create with AI, I edited the content to make it more natural, conversational, and aligned with my voice. While the AI provided a strong starting point, some sections felt overly formal or generic, so I used Edit with AI to simplify language, adjust tone, and make the content feel more natural and less AI-generated.
  Why: This made the course more approachable and easier to follow. Content that feels too robotic can create distance, so refining the tone helped create a more engaging, learner-centered experience.
• Increased interactivity by converting static content into dynamic blocks
• I replaced more static blocks with interactive ones using the Instant Convert feature. For example, I transformed longer text sections into flashcards, accordions, and other interactive formats.
  Why: This encouraged active participation instead of passive reading, helping improve engagement, pacing, and knowledge retention.
• Enhanced the experience with visuals and narration
• I used the AI Assistant to generate detailed image prompts for realistic, professional visuals aligned with the course context, and added AI-generated narration by using on-screen text as a script to create a more engaging, multimodal experience.
  Why: Incorporating visuals and audio made the course more immersive and less text-heavy, supporting different learning preferences and improving overall engagement.
  
  
2. Which AI feature or capability was most valuable in your workflow, and why? Did anything about it surprise you?
• The most valuable feature in my workflow was Create with AI, which allowed me to generate a structured course outline based on inputs like topic, audience, tone, objectives, and source materials.
• Why it mattered:
• It gave me a strong starting point and helped me quickly organize and structure my source materials. Instead of sorting through everything manually, the AI was able to chunk and categorize the content into clear lessons and topics. This also helped me see the bigger picture of the course right away, which made the process feel less overwhelming and easier to build from. As a result, I could focus more on refining the content and improving the learner experience.
• What surprised me:
• I was impressed by how cohesive and logically organized the output was. It didn’t just generate content - it broke information into meaningful sections that aligned well with instructional flow, making it feel like a true first draft rather than disconnected content.
  
  
3. What challenges did you face when trying to get AI to produce the results you wanted?
• One of the biggest challenges was getting the tone and voice just right. While the AI-generated content was helpful, some sections felt generic or overly “AI-written.” I had to iteratively refine the content - through prompting and using Edit with AI - to better align it with my voice and the experience I wanted to create.
• Another challenge was being specific enough in prompts, especially for images and assessments. Generating the right visuals and well-aligned quiz questions often required more detailed input and refinement to match both the learning objectives and the overall feel of the course.
• Overall, this process reinforced how valuable AI can be as a partner in the course design process. It’s a powerful tool for generating ideas, organizing content, and accelerating development, while still allowing space for thoughtful instructional design decisions. I found that combining AI-generated drafts with my own perspective and intentional design choices helped create a more polished, engaging, and learner-centered experience. I’m excited to continue applying the tips, techniques, and best practices I gained while working with the AI Assistant in my future projects!