In 2016, Unexco, a digital marketing company, faced the challenge of scaling content production, maintaining consistency in quality, and personalising content for different target demographics. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the company was able to implement an AI-powered content creation platform that leveraged natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms. The platform possessed Content Generation, SEO, Content Analytics, and Automated Quality Control capabilities. The platform was used to generate initial content drafts and refine them to ensure they met the quality standards of the brand’s values and positioning. This single effort of leveraging AI increased the team’s output by 300% with an increase in SEO ranking and overall engagement, which improved the effectiveness of the content strategy. This case study underscores the efficacy of AI in creating content for organisations that also leverage content creation as their major workstreams.
This article highlights the role of AI in the e-learning and course development ecosystem, illustrating how AI advancements have led to widespread adoption across industries. AI, particularly generative AI, simplifies complex tasks, boosts productivity, and enhances work quality. As AI technologies evolve, organisations are increasingly motivated to explore their potential applications in the workplace.
Understanding Artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI), the hallmark of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, has revolutionised organisational operations. It has brought about significant changes in practically every organisation, altering how businesses function.
Very briefly, the ability of machines to carry out tasks we generally identify with human intellect, such as problem-solving and decision-making, is the definition of “artificial intelligence.” Unlike humans, it uses different problem-solving techniques in various situations.
Groundbreaking achievements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have increased over time, which can be seen as directly responsible for its widespread adoption by users across industries. With simple and adaptable language models, users can now simplify complex tasks using AI, thus improving productivity and the quality of work in many cases. As the use of these technologies increases, many organisations have become motivated to think about how AI might be utilised in the workplace.
The indicators are apparent for those working in tech-driven content digitisation industries like eLearning. As large language models (LLM) evolve, AI could become increasingly integrated into our daily lives over the coming years.
Generative AI
The current excitement around AI focuses on Generative AI, a type of AI that creates new content, including conversations, stories, images, videos, and music. Generative AI analyses vast amounts of data to identify patterns and generate new content. For instance, it can create characters, icons, and images based on text prompts, facilitating quick and fascinating content production for eLearning courses. However, verifying AI-generated content for accuracy is crucial, as pattern recognition can sometimes lead to errors or misinformation.
Ensuring Accuracy: The Limitations of AI and the Importance of Human Oversight
It’s crucial to understand that, regardless of the kind of AI you’re using, these tools need to process information similarly to humans. AI systems search for data patterns to determine the most likely response to inquiries. This robust pattern recognition capability allows AI to quickly generate impressive and relevant content. However, this strength also comes with inherent limitations.
One significant limitation is that AI can make assumption errors. Because AI relies on existing data to generate responses, it might misinterpret the context or nuances of certain topics. This can lead to inaccuracies or even the propagation of false information. For example, if the data the AI was trained on includes biases or errors, the AI is likely to reproduce these issues in its output.
Moreover, AI’s reliance on large data sets means that it might not always account for the most recent or niche information, leading to outdated or irrelevant content. This lag can be particularly problematic in fields that rapidly evolve or where new research continuously emerges.
Therefore, it is essential to double-check AI-generated content for inaccuracies. Human oversight is indispensable in this process. While AI can expedite many tasks, human expertise is necessary to verify facts, correct errors, and ensure the content aligns with specific goals and values. This combination of AI efficiency and human judgment results in high-quality, accurate, and reliable eLearning content. Ensuring accuracy also involves being aware of the potential biases in AI.
Human oversight extends beyond merely checking for factual errors. It includes assessing the tone, cultural sensitivity, and appropriateness of the content. AI might generate content that, while factually correct, could be misaligned with the intended audience’s cultural or social context. When using AI, eLearning professionals must review and adjust the content to better fit the audience’s needs, ensuring it is accurate and engaging.
Ultimately, the goal is to harness the strengths of AI while mitigating its weaknesses. By combining the speed and efficiency of AI with the critical thinking and contextual understanding of humans, eLearning professionals can create high-quality educational materials that are accurate and engaging. This synergy between AI and human oversight will drive the future of eLearning, ensuring that technology enhances rather than diminishes the learning experience.
Will AI replace eLearning Professionals?
When analysing the speedily evolving pace of AI systems, it is usual to assume there is a possibility of future job loss. Considering the Industrial Revolution’s impact on most individuals’ jobs, it would be logical to strategically seek ways to ensure AI enhances job delivery rather than replacing one in the workplace.
In the eLearning and course development ecosystem, AI holds the potential to significantly improve the creation and dissemination of engaging learning materials. AI tools can handle routine tasks, streamline administrative processes, and provide data-driven insights, allowing eLearning professionals to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work. Although AI cannot replicate human creativity, it serves as a powerful tool that, in the hands of skilled professionals, can lead to exceptional outcomes.
In addition, the nuanced understanding and creative touch that eLearning professionals bring to content development remain irreplaceable. AI can only complement these skills by providing support and efficiency, but it cannot replace the innovative thinking and personal insights of human professionals.
Therefore, eLearning experts should view AI as an ally rather than a threat. By learning to harness AI’s capabilities, they can enhance their productivity and work quality, ensuring their roles remain vital and impactful in the evolving landscape of education technology.
Many professionals in the field of e-learning have been experimenting with these tools and shared their findings. Their efforts have given us a plethora of ideas for how the newest generation of AI technologies might be integrated into eLearning workflows, such as:
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Idea generation
AI plays a crucial role in the early stages of content creation by providing valuable support in brainstorming and structuring content. One of the primary applications is generating comprehensive outlines for eLearning courses, ensuring that all critical topics are covered in a logical sequence. This helps instructors and developers save time and maintain focus on the core material. Additionally, AI tools can summarise current trends and popular opinions related to the course topic by analysing large datasets from various sources. This enables eLearning professionals to incorporate up-to-date information and perspectives into their courses. AI also helps overcome creative blocks by suggesting topics, generating ideas, and providing inspiration for content creation, ensuring a steady flow of fresh and engaging material.
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Administrative tasks:
AI streamlines numerous administrative tasks, allowing eLearning professionals to focus more on content creation and instructional design. For example, AI can transcribe and summarise meeting notes, ensuring that important points are captured and easily accessible for future reference. By integrating data from various tools, AI simplifies scheduling and coordinating meetings and events, reducing the administrative burden. Furthermore, AI can draft and automate responses to common inquiries, saving time and ensuring consistent communication. AI tools can also analyse workflows and suggest ways to optimise time management, helping professionals allocate their time more effectively. Additionally, AI can be used to automate the process of converting content between different formats, such as from text to video or interactive modules, enhancing accessibility and usability.
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Research and writing:
E-learning professionals use AI to generate first drafts of content, giving professionals a starting point from which to refine and personalise. AI can also adapt the writing style to match the desired tone or brand voice, ensuring consistency across all materials. By condensing large volumes of research into concise summaries, AI makes it easier to incorporate relevant information into courses. Furthermore, AI is also used for grammatical corrections and readability enhancements, ensuring that the content is clear and professional.
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Media Production and Editing:
AI has revolutionised media production and editing by automating complex tasks and enhancing creative capabilities. For instance, e-learning professionals use AI tools to generate talking head videos by synchronising audio with video, making it easier to produce professional-quality presentations. AI can design and automate course layouts, ensuring a consistent and visually appealing format throughout the course. In media editing, AI can edit videos and audio files, reducing background noise, correcting errors, and enhancing overall quality.
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Supporting advanced eLearning functionality:
eLearning professionals are using AI to enhance advanced eLearning functionalities, providing personalised and interactive learning experiences that improve content delivery and learner engagement. AI can analyse learners’ responses to provide tailored feedback, helping learners understand their strengths and areas for improvement. It supports the creation of interactive roleplays, allowing learners to engage in simulated real-world scenarios and receive instant feedback. AI-powered chatbots assist learners by answering questions, providing guidance, and offering support around the clock, ensuring a seamless learning experience. Additionally, AI helps write or troubleshoot simple code, enabling the development of custom eLearning solutions and interactive elements that enrich the learning experience.
pcl. ‘s Commitment to Cutting-Edge Technologies for eLearning
Not only do we follow the newest AI trends in the eLearning space, but we also lead the way at pcl. Our group is at the forefront of cutting-edge eLearning solutions because we have grasped the fundamentals of modern AI. However, we go above and beyond because we recognise that artificial intelligence is a dynamic field, and we are committed to offering cutting-edge technologies and strategic insights. Partnering with pcl. means making investments in the future as well as eLearning development. Our proficiency in utilising AI enables us to develop customised, captivating, and productive eLearning experiences that yield positive outcomes. Whether you are an organisation trying to transform its training programs or an eLearning developer hoping to advance your career, trust pcl. for learning experiences that constantly adopt new and emerging technologies.
Conclusion
AI is transforming the eLearning landscape, offering tools that enhance content creation, streamline administrative tasks, and support advanced functionalities. By understanding and leveraging AI, eLearning professionals can significantly improve their work output and create impactful learning experiences. As AI evolves, staying informed and adaptable will be key to harnessing its full potential in the eLearning industry.
Written by:
Saheed Fatai
Digital Content Experience Consultant
