Episode Description
Generative AI is moving from “helpful tool” to something that can quietly shape how people think, write, and learn, and that changes everything about curriculum design. I sit down with Dr. Dwayne Wood, an experienced educator and curriculum developer with a background in military instruction, to unpack what generative AI in education actually means when you care about real learning outcomes, not just faster content production.
We dig into the uncomfortable middle ground between banning AI and letting it run wild. Dwayne explains why domain knowledge matters so much when learners use AI, how hallucinations and bias slip through when output looks polished, and why foundational courses may need tighter boundaries than advanced coursework. We also talk about the hidden risk for our profession: skill erosion. If instructional designers outsource the “why” behind design decisions, we can lose the expertise that makes learning experiences work in the real world.
From there, we get practical. We focus on backward design, alignment, and authentic assessment as a way to make AI use measurable and defensible. We explore strategies for adult learners, including experiential learning cycles that surface misconceptions, reflective prompts that build transfer of learning, and course policies that reduce anxiety and deadline pressure that can drive irresponsible AI shortcuts.
If you’re building academic curriculum, corporate training, or workforce education, this conversation will help you decide when to use AI, when not to, and how to keep critical thinking at the center. Subscribe for the rest of the mini-series, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators can find it.
📢 Call-to-Action: Want to explore how Generative AI is shaping academic curriculum? Visit the links in the show notes to connect with Dr. Dwayne Wood, learn more about his work, and continue reflecting on how AI can support thoughtful, human-centered curriculum design.
📖 Additional Resource: You can also visit National University to learn more about its programs and resources for adult learners, working professionals, and military-connected students.
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