Introduction
Streamlined Instructional Design with AI is a collaborative work authored by 21 graduate students enrolled in ETAD 873: Instructional Design, under the guidance of Dr. Paula MacDowell. This textbook was developed during the Fall 2024 term as part of the Educational Technology and Design graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
Aiming to demystify artificial intelligence (AI) for educators and instructional designers, the authors’ goal is to make AI more accessible and approachable. By providing practical insights, user-friendly strategies, and engaging narratives, the book provides support for responsibly integrating AI in diverse classroom settings. By empowering teachers and students with AI tools, the book advances equitable and innovative educational practices. Notably, the inclusion of social justice perspectives within the context of AI integration represents a unique and original contribution to this work.
As AI continues to transform the educational landscape, implementing a robust framework for AI literacy becomes essential (Figure 1). Central to this framework is an understanding of what AI tools can do—not just their functionalities but also how they operate—enabling educators and instructional designers to make informed decisions about their implementation in practice. Critically evaluating the purpose and impact of using AI in curriculum and instruction involves questioning whether its applications are driven by novelty or if they genuinely enhance teaching and learning experiences. The authors address these challenging questions throughout the book, encouraging thoughtful and intentional choices when integrating AI. By anchoring these discussions in foundational instructional design principles, the book chapters provide a roadmap for navigating the evolving intersection of AI and education.
Figure 1
Expanded AI Literacy Framework: Understand, Evaluate, and Use
Note. Mills et al. (2024). CC BY-NC-ND 4 0
Mills, K., Ruiz, P., Lee, K., Coenraad, M., Fusco, J., Roschelle, J., & Weisgrau, J. (2024). AI literacy: A framework to understand, evaluate, and use emerging technology. Digital Promise: Accelerating Innovation in Education. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/218
Instructional Purposes: Bridging Innovation and Purpose
The authors explore how AI can streamline instructional design, with careful consideration for how AI can empower learners, support educators, communicate with social justice, and address curricular complexities across multiple pedagogical domains.
Readers will discover how AI can personalize learning to meet the diverse needs of today’s students, crossing cultural and geographical boundaries. From girls in Afghanistan accessing education through AI-supported distance learning to Saskatchewan students designing coding assignments tailored to their skills and interests, the chapters highlight how AI can foster equity and autonomy by bridging language barriers and enabling inquiry-based learning.
As you engage with these chapters, you will see how AI can reshape education to be inclusive, scalable, progressive, and still deeply human. From practical applications to thought-provoking case studies, the book offers a vision for how AI can evolve teacher practice while staying grounded in the art of teaching.
