Using ChatGPT to Support Instructional Design: Student Instructional Designers’ Perceptions and Experiences in Graduate Courses

The recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) hold the promise of significantly transforming the field of instructional design. This study aims to explore the experiences and perspectives of graduate student instructional designers regarding the use of ChatGPT in their design processes. Through the thematic analysis of seventeen students’ reflection papers and learning artifacts, the study revealed that ChatGPT can potentially enhance various aspects of instructional design, such as brainstorming, outlining, content creation, learning activity design, assessment development, and text refinement. Moreover, the study found two main advantages of using ChatGPT: increased efficiency and enhanced effectiveness. Nonetheless, participants also pointed out several challenges, including technological limitations, a lack of AI literacy, ethical concerns, and potential adverse effects. These findings offer valuable insights into how generative AI can be effectively used for instructional design and how instructors can collaborate and leverage ChatGPT to provide better learning experiences for student instructional designers.