Harnessing AI in L&D: Strategies for Staying Ahead

by | Nov 12, 2024 | Blog

AI has exploded this past year, and its impact on the learning and development community evolves every day.

I want to take you on a quick journey back to the early 2000s when LMSs began to dominate the learning and development market. I remember going to expos at training conferences when every booth seemed to feature an LMS. As the 2000s progressed, many larger LMSs acquired smaller ones, some went out of business, and others merged. Over time, the expos diversified, showcasing various technologies.

This past week at DevLearn, I experienced a bit of déjà vu—not every booth was an LMS vendor, but many focused on AI. We are just at the early adoption phase of AI in our field. Over the next six months, one year, two years, or even five years, I predict the number of AI tech companies will explode. They already have, and if you aren’t paying attention, it’s time to start.

Here are some strategies to help you stay up-to-date in the ever-changing AI landscape:

1. Stay Informed on AI Tools in the Marketplace

  • Network with Peers: Connect with other L&D experts to share insights. Schedule virtual coffee meetups to chat about new technologies.
  • Attend Webinars and Conferences: Organizations like Training Magazine Network offer fantastic sessions on AI.
  • Explore Repositories: Check out “There is an AI for That” to find an ever-growing repository of AI tools for all kinds of uses. Set a goal to test at least one new AI tool monthly, blocking off “Tech Time” on your calendar to play with these tools.

2. Start Practicing Your Prompts

  • Master Prompt Engineering: As one keynote speaker at DevLearn noted, “66% of business leaders wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills TODAY” (Microsoft and LinkedIn, 2024). Learning to craft effective prompts is an essential skill.
  • Join AI and Prompt Engineering Communities: Platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn groups, and Discord offer spaces to learn from others’ prompt engineering experiences, and community feedback helps refine your approach.
  • Experiment with Different AI Tools: Try tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, or Midjourney to see how each interprets your prompts. Experimenting across platforms builds a versatile prompt-crafting ability.
  • Start a “Prompt Journal”: Track your prompt experiments in a notebook or digital file, noting successful and unsuccessful prompts. This journal will serve as a valuable resource over time, helping you identify patterns and refine your techniques.

3. Embrace Experimentation with Small-Scale Pilots

  • Start Small: Implement AI tools on a limited scale within your organization. This allows you to assess their impact without a full-scale rollout. For example, consider using an AI tool to automate part of your course design or leverage an AI-based analytics platform for one module.
  • Gather Team Feedback: Engage team members in these pilots and gather feedback from users to foster AI literacy and build trust in new technologies.

4. Build a Cross-Functional AI Skills Team

  • Foster an AI-Competent Team: AI is no longer just for IT or data science. Equip instructional designers, trainers, and eLearning developers with AI skills by offering skill-building sessions. Assign team members as “AI Ambassadors” to champion AI adoption.
  • Promote Cross-Functional Collaboration: Cross-functional teams help bridge gaps in AI knowledge, fostering collaboration and adaptability as AI continues to evolve in L&D.

Here are some tools I am experimenting with and using:

Tell us. What are you using right now?

As AI continues to revolutionize the learning and development landscape, staying ahead of its rapid advancements is essential for today’s L&D professionals. By actively exploring new tools, honing prompt engineering skills, and embracing cross-functional collaboration, you can harness AI’s potential to drive meaningful impact in your organization.

These strategies are only the beginning—AI is set to become a powerful ally in creating more engaging, personalized, and efficient learning experiences. So, whether you’re experimenting with small pilots or building AI competency across your team, now is the time to invest in these skills and position yourself at the forefront of this exciting transformation in L&D.