Create Engagement with AI: Development Phase

Cartoon-style retro robot assembling colorful puzzle pieces labeled “INTERACTION,” “FEEDBACK,” and “ACCESSIBILITY” against a turquoise background. The robot is smiling and facing forward, with orange and cream coloring and antennae. On the right side, bold text reads “AI FOR ID: DEVELOPMENT” in white and orange, separated by a thin white line.

Development is where design becomes reality. It’s the phase where instructional designers build, test, and refine learning experiences, layering visuals, voice, and interactivity with intention.

With AI as a creative partner, this phase becomes faster, smarter, and more scalable. But speed isn’t the goal, impact is.

What AI Can Do (and What It Can’t)

AI tools can generate images, videos, quizzes, and even narration in seconds. But they still need a discerning eye. Instructional designers must guide the process, checking for clarity, accessibility, and cognitive alignment.

How AI can support the Development Phase

Image Creation:

• Tools like Canva, Rise, and Storyline offer AI-generated visuals that save time, but watch for odd anatomy (extra fingers, warped angles) and spelling errors in embedded text. Always review for realism and relevance.

Video Generation:

• Platforms like Vyond, InVideo, and HeyGen allow you to create short, script-based videos, great for introductions or wrap-ups. These aren’t replacements for full instructional videos, but they’re perfect for setting tone or reinforcing key takeaways.

Try This: Scripted Intro Video

Prompt your AI tool with:

“Create a 30-second intro video for a course on inclusive design. Use a friendly tone, animated visuals, and a clear call to action.”

Then:

• Use Vyond, InVideo, or HeyGen to generate the video from your script.

• Customize avatars, voiceovers, and pacing.

• Add captions and test playback for accessibility.

Want to explore more? Try PresenterMedia’s SlideClips or animated video backgrounds to create branded intros directly in PowerPoint or Storyline. You can even link to reference docs or websites for added context.

These tools help you set the tone, build engagement, and reinforce your course’s identity, without needing a full production team.

PresenterMedia:

• A hidden gem for instructional designers, PresenterMedia offers AI-generated PowerPoint decks, customizable animations, video backgrounds, and reference integration (linking to docs or websites). It’s especially useful for classroom trainers and those using Storyline’s PPT upload feature. Bonus: it’s budget-friendly at just $75 for two years. A powerhouse tool that deserves more attention.

Quiz Building:

• Both Rise and Storyline now offer AI-powered quiz generation. You can prompt the AI to build assessments directly from your course content, saving hours of manual work. Storyline’s AI Assistant lets you select slides and auto-generate questions, which you can then customize and align with accessibility standards. Just remember: AI can draft, but you must validate for clarity, cognitive level, and learner impact.

Try This: AI-Powered Quiz Builder

Prompt your AI tool with:

“Generate 5 multiple-choice questions based on this onboarding module for new retail associates. Focus on product knowledge, customer interaction, and safety protocols.”

Then:

•             Review each question for clarity and bias.

•             Add feedback for correct/incorrect answers.

•             Use Rise or Storyline to build the quiz and test accessibility features.

Want to go deeper? Ask AI to generate distractors:

“Create three plausible but incorrect answers for this question about handling customer objections.”

Accessibility:

• AI can support accessibility in multiple ways:

  • Suggest alt text for images and icons.

  • Auto-generate closed captions in Storyline for text-to-speech narration.

  • Prompt accessibility testing:

“Review this slide for screen reader compatibility and suggest improvements.”

These features help ensure your content is inclusive, but always validate with real users and tools.

Narration:

• Storyline includes built-in text-to-speech functionality, allowing IDs to quickly generate voiceovers. For more natural-sounding narration, platforms like WellSaid Labs and ElevenLabs offer high-quality AI voices. ElevenLabs is especially budget-friendly and versatile, with multilingual support and voice cloning features. It’s a strong contender for IDs looking to balance quality and cost.

Wrapping Up: Build with Empathy, Deliver with Impact

Development is more than assembly, it’s about honoring the design’s intent and crafting experiences that resonate. With AI, instructional designers can build faster and smarter, but only when guided by empathy, expertise, and learner-centered strategy.