Redefining the Role of the Instructional Designer with AI

Redefining the Role of the Instructional Designer with AI

The vocational education and training (VET) sector is experiencing unprecedented demand for flexible, engaging, and industry-aligned programs that cater to the evolving needs of both learners and employers. In response, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful ally in the design and delivery of high-quality training and assessment.

Far from replacing human instructional designers (IDs), AI has the potential to enhance their work—allowing them to focus on creativity, compliance, and the strategic aspects of course development.

The Evolving Role of the Instructional Designer in an RTO

In a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), instructional designers hold a critical role in:

• Interpreting national training package requirements
• Developing learning materials and assessments
• Ensuring compliance with ASQA and the VET Quality Framework

These responsibilities often require time-intensive research, documentation, and content alignment—areas where AI can significantly improve efficiency.

Where AI Fits

AI can streamline many aspects of the instructional design process, including:

• Analysing training package requirements and generating first-draft content
• Tagging resources to specific units of competency
• Automating compliance checks

This efficiency gain enables instructional designers to focus on higher-value tasks that require human expertise, such as:

• Contextualising materials for diverse learner cohorts
• Designing real-world, practical assessments that align with compliance requirements
• Creating innovative and engaging learning experiences that leverage technology without compromising inclusivity

Personalisation Without Losing the Human Touch

One of AI’s most significant contributions to learning design is adaptive and personalised learning experiences. By analysing learner performance data, AI can:

• Identify areas where students need additional support
• Suggest customised activities based on individual learning styles

However, in an RTO setting, true personalisation goes beyond automated recommendations. Learners have diverse professional, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds—some may be new to an industry, while others bring prior experience and qualifications. Human instructional designers remain essential in:

• Ensuring cultural and linguistic suitability of training content
• Designing workplace simulations that reflect real-world conditions
• Maintaining empathy and connection throughout the learning journey

While AI provides data-driven insights, it is the human touch that turns a course from functional to transformative.

Efficiency, Compliance, and Quality

Ensuring compliance with national training packages and regulatory frameworks is fundamental to an RTO’s success. AI can assist by:

• Mapping course content to units of competency, performance criteria, and foundation skills
• Automating compliance checks, ensuring assessments adhere to the rules of evidence and principles of assessment
• Providing real-time analytics, flagging at-risk learners and identifying content areas with lower pass rates

Yet, compliance remains an RTO’s ultimate responsibility. AI can support, but senior trainers and instructional designers must review and verify all AI-generated materials to meet industry and regulatory expectations.

Ethical and Responsible Use of AI

Like any technological advancement, AI adoption in education raises ethical considerations. At Insources Institute, we are committed to using AI responsibly. Instructional designers play a crucial role in ensuring:

• Data privacy and security—protecting learners’ personal information
• Minimisation of bias—reviewing AI-generated content to avoid exclusionary language or assumptions
• Transparency and fairness—maintaining ethical standards in adaptive assessments and learner pathways

AI can support course development, but human oversight is essential to uphold quality, fairness, and compliance in the learning experience.

Looking Ahead

Embracing AI does not replace human-centred design—it enhances it. By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows instructional designers to focus on:

• Creativity in course design
• Meaningful learner engagement
• Rigorous compliance and quality assurance

The future of vocational education lies in understanding, educating, and leading people. To remain at the forefront, VET providers must recognise the unprecedented potential of AI—leveraging its capabilities for efficiency and analysis while maintaining control over the learning journey.

Failing to understand AI means risking the loss of control over our own goals as training providers. By integrating AI strategically and responsibly, we can drive innovation while preserving the core values of quality education.