Josh Cavalier is one of the leading voices in the L&D industry about AI. In a recent LinkedIn Live session, he made this comment about being an orchestrator of AI. That made a lot of sense to me. This orchestration idea — it’s not about being a tech guru; it’s about conducting a symphony of AI tools. I spoke recently at the Chicago Elearning Exchange about Adaptive Learning. I stressed that as IDs, we aim not to become software engineers. I don’t know how well that went over, but I will use the orchestra analogy going forward.

Now, we all know AI is moving at breakneck speed. My YouTube feed is full of videos touting the next “Midjourney Killer,” thumbnails showing a guy with his mouth wide open, and bold text claiming, “This Changes Everything.”

If you try to keep up, it gets confusing on what to keep up with. How can one become an expert in generative AI when it changes so much. This is why the orchestrator analogy is so good. You only need to know the tools that allow you to direct and utilize AI in the design process.

What Do I Mean By Working Knowledge?

Understanding AI Capabilities: First things first, get a handle on what AI can actually do for learning and development. You don’t need to know the nitty-gritty technical details, just the potential and limitations. It’s like knowing what each instrument in your orchestra is capable of.

Strategic Integration: This is where you decide where AI can enhance the learning experience. It’s about blending AI-generated content with your human-crafted materials. Think of it as arranging your musical score — you’re deciding where each instrument (or, in this case, AI tool) can shine.

Tool Selection and Coordination: Choose the right AI tools for your learning objectives. This is like picking the right instruments for your symphony. Then, coordinate between different technologies to create a cohesive learning environment.

Prompt Engineering: This is your conductor’s baton. Learn how to craft effective prompts for AI tools. It’s about guiding the AI to produce the educational content you need.

In order to gain work knowledge, we have to address the pace of advancements. Like I said, there is something new or an update to a current application every week. I wrote a blog post last year titled, “How I Evaluate Software to Avoid the Shiny Object Syndrom.”. The post outline my evaluation process, but I think it would be helpful to see how I categorize my toolbox to connect where I place things once they’ve been evaluated.

My AI Toolbox. It’s not fancy, but it keeps me from losing my mind in this AI tsunami. Here’s the gist:

Ecosystem: My ride-or-die tools. They’re part of my daily grind.

Sandbox: The new kids on the block. They’re promising but still need to prove themselves.

Watch This Space: Interesting, but not quite ready for prime time.

On the Horizon: I’ve heard the buzz, but I’m not biting yet.

Bedrocks: Foundational tools (Adobe, Camtasia, etc.) They’re not going anywhere.

This system keeps me focused. I’m not chasing every shiny object that pops up on YouTube. I’ve got clear rules for what makes it into each category.

Take AI video, for instance. At first, it was just noise. But I set some benchmarks: videos longer than 4 seconds, no weird image morphing, and, for the love of all that’s holy, not everything in slow-mo. When Runway Gen3 hit those marks, it earned a spot in my sandbox.

This approach isn’t just about keeping my sanity — it’s about managing costs and scalability, too. Some of these AI tools can burn through your budget, and some are a fiscal black hole, and you have no clue of the real cost until the invoice arrives. I’m talking to you, Azure.

As instructional designers, we have a superpower: our domain expertise. We have models, frameworks, and evidence-based practices. AI is just another tool in our toolkit. The focus remains on designing engaging learning experiences that drive performance.

It Will Get Easier

You might be old enough to remember when Computer Based Training was programmed using BASIC or Pascal. Articulate and Macromedia authoring tools were REAL game changers. The same is going to be true for generative AI. Currently, we are using API calls, LangChain, React, PHP files, and a host of other things to incorporate AI into our learning experiences. Soon, AI agents, LLMs that can handle voice, vision, and text, will streamline the process. Adobe is already integrating AI into its software. You can expect Articulate, Canva, and Captivate to do the same.

We have no idea when that will happen so the best approach is to put in the time now to understand how these pieces fit together, you’ll be the one calling the shots when the tech levels up.

So, next time you feel that AI anxiety creeping in, take a deep breath. You’ve got this. You’re the orchestrator. And AI? It’s just another instrument in the toolbox.

The Robot Paradox: Why Human Touch Matters More in the Age of Automation

Let’s talk about robots. I’m often teased about being Mr. Skynet because of my involvement with robots and my enthusiasm for generative AI. But I think this is a different take on robots. And I’m referring to all types of robots, the ones taking over our factories, our art studios, and even our kitchens. You’d think with all this automation, human skills would be going the way of the dodo. But here’s the kicker — they’re not. In fact, the more robots we have, the more valuable human touch seems to become.

Let me share an example I often use to illustrate this point.

Imagine passing by an art studio every day for a year. You see an artist pouring his heart and soul into his canvases. Weekends, late nights, doesn’t matter — he’s always there, brush in hand. You watch blank canvases slowly transform into vibrant masterpieces.

Now, picture the exhibition. One painting has a $12,000 price tag. Steep? Sure. But after witnessing the year-long journey that went into it, you get it. The price makes sense.

Contrast that with someone using AI to whip up a similar-looking piece in minutes, trying to sell it for the same price. Feels different, doesn’t it? That’s what economists call “labor illusion.” We value things more when we see or know the work that goes into them.

This isn’t just about art, though. I’ve seen this play out in industries across the board. I recently spoke at several community colleges about teaching automation to welding students. There were three types of schools: those leading in automation, those with some automation but not fully utilizing it, and those with none because their area didn’t have automation yet.

You know what I told the schools without automation? Become the trusted advisors for your region. Because if those industries are to survive, they’ll eventually need automation. And these schools could be prepared to advise and provide talent.

But here’s the thing — even as automation grows, skilled human welders are becoming more valuable, not less. The manufacturing industry is short 300k welders. So, robots are going to take the place of welders because we don’t produce enough welders.

But it doesn’t stop people from asking, what happens when the robots take over? My answer: It’s not about trying to beat the bots at their own game. It’s about doing what they can’t — being creative, adaptable, uniquely human.

So what does all this mean for education? For jobs? For our future?

We need to rethink how we’re preparing people for this new world. Sure, tech skills are important. But we can’t forget about creativity, critical thinking, and craftsmanship. The stuff that makes us human.

If you’re just starting out in your career, my advice would be this: don’t try to out-robot the robots. Instead, develop skills they can’t touch. Find your unique voice. Your style. Learn to connect with people in ways a machine never could.

We’re already seeing this play out in interesting ways. Take books, for example. Audiobooks are great for commutes, no doubt. But people are heading back to physical bookstores. They want to hold real books, join real book clubs, sip real coffee while they read. Heck, Barnes & Noble is even opening new stores — smaller, cozier ones. Because people crave that human experience.

I think we’ll see more of this trend. More appreciation for the human-made. The hand-crafted. The unique.

Don’t get me wrong — technology isn’t going anywhere. But ironically, it’s making human creativity and craftsmanship stand out even more. In a sea of machine-made sameness, the human touch becomes a beacon of uniqueness.

So here’s the bottom line: Automation isn’t killing craftsmanship. It’s giving us the opportunity to appreciate the craftsman. The future doesn’t belong to those who can outperform machines. It belongs to those who can offer what machines can’t — that unmistakable human touch. Creativity. Passion. The ability to connect and empathize.

In a world increasingly populated by robots, being unapologetically human is your greatest asset.

I stepped into room 809, the door clicking shut behind me as I took in my surroundings. Two queen beds, a small desk, and a standard hotel room layout greeted me. But something felt off. A chill hung in the air, sending a shiver down my spine. I walked over to the thermostat, adjusting the temperature, but the cold persisted, as if it had seeped into the very walls.

Exhausted from my travel, I decided to address the issue later. I kicked off my heels and sank into the soft embrace of the bed, allowing myself a brief respite before dinner. The gentle hum of the air conditioner lulled me into a light slumber.

When I awoke, the room was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. I freshened up and made my way downstairs to the hotel restaurant. The dining area buzzed with the chatter of other conference attendees, their conversations melding into a soothing background noise. I settled into a corner table and perused the menu, opting for a simple yet satisfying meal.

As I savored the last bites of my dinner, my thoughts drifted to the conference ahead. Excitement and anticipation mingled with a touch of nervousness. I had worked hard to secure my place at this event, and I was determined to make the most of it.

With a contented sigh, I pushed back from the table and made my way to the elevator. As I waited, a woman joined me, her presence almost startling in the quiet lobby. She was dressed in an all-gray outfit, reminiscent of an old-time nurse or a laundry attendant. Her face was expressionless, her eyes distant.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside. As the doors slid shut, the temperature plummeted, the chill from my room seeming to follow me. I shivered, rubbing my arms in an attempt to ward off the cold.

“Is it just me, or is it freezing in here?” I asked, trying to break the silence.

The woman remained still, her gaze fixed straight ahead. No response, no acknowledgment of my presence. The air grew heavy with an inexplicable tension.

The elevator reached my floor, and I stepped out, eager to escape the unsettling atmosphere. I turned to bid the woman goodbye, a polite gesture ingrained in me.

“Have a good evening,” I said, forcing a smile.

The woman’s eyes met mine, and in a calm, eerie voice, she replied, “You too, Miss Emily.”

My blood ran cold. Emily? That wasn’t my name. I opened my mouth to correct her, but the elevator doors were already closing, the woman’s figure disappearing behind them.

I stood there, frozen, a chill crawling up my spine. The empty hallway stretched before me, suddenly unfamiliar and foreboding. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, that the woman’s words held a deeper, more unsettling meaning.

With a deep breath, I turned and hurried to my room, the key card trembling in my hand as I unlocked the door. The room greeted me with its persistent chill, and I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see the woman in gray standing behind me.

But I was alone, the silence broken only by the hum of the air conditioner. I sank onto the bed, my mind racing with questions. Who was the woman? Why had she called me Emily? And why did I have the chilling impression that the elevator had been empty all along?

As I sat there, the weight of the strange encounter pressing down on me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my stay at the DoubleTree hotel was about to take a turn for the unexpected.

I tossed and turned all night, unable to find any peace. Before bed, I had made the mistake of looking into the history of the hotel, and what I discovered sent chills down my spine. The full name of the establishment was the Emily Morgan Double Tree Hotel, and it came with a disturbing claim to fame: it was considered the most haunted hotel in the country. Of all the places I could have chosen to stay, I had unwittingly picked a hotel with a reputation for paranormal activity. Even more unsettling was the fact that the mysterious woman on the elevator had addressed me as Emily. Who was this Emily Morgan?

I couldn’t bring myself to delve any deeper into the hotel’s eerie past. Instead, I resolved to pretend the whole incident had never occurred, hoping to put it behind me.

As I emerged from my fitful slumber the following morning, the events of the previous evening still clung to my consciousness like a persistent fog. Stepping into the shower, I allowed the steaming water to cascade over me, wishing it could cleanse my mind of the disturbing encounter with the woman in gray as easily as it washed away the lingering fatigue from my sleepless night.

After getting dressed, I made my way down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. I spotted my coworker, James, already seated at a table, nursing a cup of coffee. I joined him, offering a brief greeting as I settled into the chair across from him.

“Morning, James,” I said, reaching for the coffee pot. “How’d you sleep?”

James shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. “Not too bad. You?”

I hesitated for a moment, considering whether to mention the strange occurrence from the night before. But I decided against it, not wanting to dwell on the unsettling experience.

“Same here,” I replied, pouring myself a cup of the steaming liquid.

We fell into a comfortable silence, focusing on our breakfast. I ordered scrambled eggs, and James followed suit. As we ate, our conversation remained light, revolving around the quality of the coffee and the texture of the eggs.

“I like my scrambled eggs a bit fluffier,” James remarked, prodding at the slightly overcooked mass on his plate.

I nodded in agreement, taking a bite of my own eggs. “Yeah, these could use a little more air in them.”

We continued our casual chat, discussing the upcoming conference and the sessions we planned to attend. As we finished our breakfast, James glanced at his watch and pushed back from the table.

“Well, I better head over to the convention center,” he said, standing up. “I want to make sure I’m there early to grab a good seat.”

I nodded, reaching for my badge to follow him. But as I rummaged through my bag, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. My badge was nowhere to be found.

“Damn it,” I muttered, realizing I must have left it in my room. “I forgot my badge. You go ahead, James. I’ll meet you at the convention center after I grab it.”

James gave me a quick nod and a wave before heading out of the restaurant. I sighed, frustrated with myself for the oversight. I hurried back to my room, hoping the badge would be easy to find.

I stepped into the elevator, my mind still grappling with the strange encounter with the woman in gray. I pressed the button for the 8th floor, eager to return to the comfort of my room. The doors slid shut, and the elevator began its ascent. But as the numbers climbed, my unease grew. 9… 10… 11… The elevator showed no signs of slowing down.

12… 13… 14. With a soft ding, the doors opened, revealing a dimly lit hallway that was most certainly not the 8th floor. I hesitated, my finger hovering over the “door close” button. But curiosity got the better of me, and I stepped out into the eerie corridor.

The air was cold, almost frigid, and carried a faint scent of antiseptic. The walls seemed to close in on me, the dim lighting casting long shadows that danced and flickered with each step I took. I wrapped my arms around myself, a futile attempt to ward off the chill that seeped into my bones.

As I made my way down the hallway, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was the woman from the elevator, her gray outfit now more clearly resembling that of a nurse from a bygone era. Her face was pale, almost translucent, and her eyes held a haunting emptiness.

“Emily,” she said, her voice a hollow whisper. “You’ve escaped from here once before, but now you must perform your final prep for operation.”

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest. “No, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not Emily. I’m Brittany.”

But the nurse paid no heed to my words. She beckoned to someone behind her, and two orderlies stepped forward, their faces grim and determined. They grabbed me by the arms, their grip like iron, and began to drag me down the hallway.

I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls. “Let me go! I’m not Emily! I don’t belong here!”

But my pleas fell on deaf ears. The orderlies hauled me into an operating room, the stark white walls and gleaming metal instruments sending a wave of terror through me. They strapped me down to the operating table, the restraints biting into my skin.

The nurse loomed over me, her eyes cold and lifeless. “We must extract all the souls who died in the fire,” she said, her voice a monotone. “It is the only way to set them free.”

I thrashed against the restraints, my screams growing more desperate with each passing second. But it was no use. The nurse picked up a scalpel, the blade glinting in the harsh light of the operating room.

In a moment of sheer desperation, I managed to wrench one arm free from the restraints. I lashed out, striking the nurse with all the strength I could muster. She stumbled back, the scalpel clattering to the floor.

I seized the opportunity, tearing myself free from the remaining restraints. I bolted from the operating room, my heart pounding in my ears as I raced down the hallway. The elevator doors stood open, a beacon of hope in the nightmarish landscape.

I lunged into the elevator, my fingers frantically jabbing at the buttons. The doors began to slide shut, but not before I caught a glimpse of the nurse and the orderlies, their faces contorted with rage as they surged towards me.

The elevator jolted into motion, descending at a dizzying speed. I braced myself against the walls, my breath coming in ragged gasps. But just as I thought I had escaped, the floor of the elevator gave way beneath me.

I plummeted, a scream tearing from my throat as I fell through the darkness. With a splash, I found myself submerged in water, the shock of the cold stealing the breath from my lungs.

I surfaced, gasping and sputtering, only to realize that I was in the hotel’s basement pool. The water was murky, the tiled walls closing in on me like a tomb. I swam to the edge, my limbs heavy with exhaustion and fear.

As I pulled myself out of the pool, I couldn’t help but glance upward, half-expecting to see the nurse and the orderlies peering down at me from the gaping hole in the elevator shaft. But there was only darkness, a yawning void that seemed to swallow all light and hope.

I stumbled through the basement, my mind reeling from the horrors I had just experienced. I had to find a way out, a way to escape this nightmare before it consumed me entirely.

I screamed as the nurse dragged me toward the pool, my heels digging into the cold, unyielding floor. The chamber was hidden deep within the morgue, a place that should not have existed. The pool itself was an anomaly, its dark, still waters seeming to belong to another era entirely.

“No, please!” I begged, my voice raw with terror. “I’m not Emily! I’m Brittany!”

But the nurse was deaf to my pleas. With a strength that belied her frail appearance, she forced me into the water. I thrashed and fought, but her grip was iron-clad. As my head was submerged, my lungs burned, screaming for air. But through the murky depths, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

Beneath the surface, the morgue doors lay submerged, their once-polished wood now warped and rotting. It was a sight both terrifying and mesmerizing, a surreal vision that seemed to defy all logic and reason.

I kicked and clawed at the nurse, desperate to break free. My screams were muffled by the water, bubbles streaming from my mouth as I fought for my life. Just as I felt my strength waning, my vision beginning to blur, flames erupted around the pool.

The fire cast dancing shadows on the walls, illuminating the horror etched on the nurse’s face. In that moment of distraction, I wrenched myself free, gasping for air as I broke the surface. I scrambled out of the pool, my clothes drenched and clinging to my skin.

Without a second thought, I ran, my feet pounding against the floor as I navigated the smoky hallways. The crackle of the flames and the searing heat chased me, but it was the ghost’s voice that filled me with true terror. It echoed through the corridors, twisted with rage, calling out Emily’s name – my name.

I ran until my lungs burned and my legs ached, but the hallways seemed to stretch on forever. And then, I found myself at a dead end. My heart pounded in my chest as the footsteps of the nurse grew closer, the sound of her approach filling me with dread. I turned, ready to face my fate, fear coursing through my veins.

But just as I thought all hope was lost, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a woman, her presence calmer and more authoritative than the deranged nurse. “Through here,” she whispered urgently, pressing a hidden panel in the wall.

To my astonishment, the panel swung open, revealing a doorway. The woman pushed me through, and the panel shut behind me with a resounding click of finality. I stumbled forward, my eyes widening as I found myself in the stark contrast of a hotel room.

The air was blissfully smoke-free, devoid of the sounds of the hospital, the fire, or the nurse’s haunting voice. I collapsed to the floor, relief mingling with the confusion and fear that still gripped my heart. How had I ended up here? What was the meaning of this nightmare?

I stepped out of the room, my heart still racing from the nightmarish ordeal. As I glanced at the room number, a chill ran down my spine. Room 810. I recalled the whispers among the hotel staff about this particular room being haunted. The coincidence was too uncanny to ignore.

I looked at my watch, expecting hours to have passed, but to my astonishment, only two minutes had elapsed since I left James in the restaurant. How was that possible? The horrors I had experienced felt like they had lasted an eternity.

As I stood there, trying to make sense of it all, a part of me wanted to run, to check out of this hotel and never look back. But before I could act on that impulse, a gentle voice whispered, “You’re okay.”

The voice was soothing, almost ethereal, and it seemed to emanate from within me. Suddenly, a wave of calm washed over me, and for the first time since the nightmarish encounter began, I felt a sense of peace. The fear and confusion that had gripped my heart began to dissipate, replaced by a newfound clarity.

I took a deep breath and made my way back to my room. To my relief, my badge was right where I had left it, sitting on the nightstand. I picked it up, running my fingers over the smooth surface, a tangible reminder of the reality I had temporarily left behind.

With my badge in hand, I headed to the convention center, determined to focus on my work and put the strange events of the morning behind me. As I walked through the bustling crowds, my mind kept drifting back to the voice that had comforted me outside Room 810.

Was it possible that it had been Emily who saved me? The thought seemed absurd, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a connection between the ghostly figure of Emily Morgan and the harrowing experience I had just endured.

Throughout the day, as I attended meetings and presentations, my thoughts kept returning to the mystery surrounding the hotel and its haunted history. I found myself researching Emily Morgan during breaks, desperate to uncover any clues that might shed light on my own experience.

As the day drew to a close, I sat in the hotel lobby, lost in thought. The events of the past 24 hours played out in my mind like a surreal movie, each scene more bizarre than the last. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had somehow become entangled in a ghostly drama that had been playing out for decades.

Had Emily Morgan, in some inexplicable way, reached out to me from beyond the grave? Had she saved me from the clutches of the deranged nurse and the horrors of the hospital? The questions swirled in my mind, begging for answers that I knew might never come.

As I sat there, the bustling lobby fading into the background, I felt a strange sense of connection to Emily. Though I had never met her, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our paths had crossed for a reason. Perhaps, in some way, we were kindred spirits, two souls caught in the web of the hotel’s dark history.

I knew that I might never fully understand what had happened to me, but I also knew that I would never forget it. The experience had changed me, opening my eyes to the possibility of a world beyond the one I had always known.

With a sigh, I gathered my things and headed back to my room, ready to face whatever lay ahead. As I stepped into the elevator, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Emily’s ghostly figure watching me from the shadows.

But the lobby was empty, and the elevator doors slid shut, carrying me up to my floor. As I walked down the hallway, I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me. Whatever had happened, whatever forces had brought me to this place, I knew that I had emerged stronger, more resilient than before.

And though the mystery of Emily Morgan and the haunted hotel might never be fully solved, I knew that I would carry the memory of this experience with me forever, a reminder of the strange and inexplicable ways in which our lives can intersect with the unknown.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

BLAKE: African American man, early thirties, with medium-brown skin and low-cropped hair. His physique is slim-muscular and well-defined, He carries an intense gaze with deep brown eyes.

THE SENTINAL: African-american superhero in a black form-fitting suit that accentuates his slim muscular physique. A metallic silver emblem, resembling an inverted ‘M’ with sharp, angular lines reminiscent of lightning bolts, is prominently displayed on his chest when facing the camera. Back of the suit is all black. intense glowing blue eyes peer out from behind a mask that hides the top portion of his face, leaving his chiseled jaw and mouth visible. He sports dark silver boots .

THE ART STYLE: Western Modern Comic style, characterized by bold lines, dynamic shading, and vibrant colors, capturing the essence of modern comic art.

ARTIST BACKGROUND

Create prompts that capture the essence of the scene for image generation in the realm of modern Western comics. Focus on concise, clear, and vivid descriptions.

Prompt Structure:

“A [medium] of [subject], [subject’s characteristics], [relation to background] [background]. [Details of background] [Interactions with color and lighting]. (“Drawn with:”)[Specific traits of style]”

Medium:

Specify that the image should emulate modern Western comic art.

Subject:

•             Colors: Choose predominant and secondary colors that fit within the comic book aesthetic.

•             Pose: Describe whether the pose is action-oriented, relaxed, or dynamic to fit the mood.

•             Viewing Angle: Choose from options like aerial view, dutch angle, straight-on, extreme closeup, etc.

Background:

•             Environment: Indoor, outdoor, or an abstract setting that complements the comic style.

•             Colors: Mention how they contrast or harmonize with the subject to create a cohesive look.

•             Lighting: Define the time of day, lighting intensity, and direction to enhance the scene’s drama or atmosphere.

Style Traits:

•             Influences: Mention specific comic book eras, artists, or series that inspired the piece.

•             Technique: For digital art, list any specific digital techniques like cell-shading or hatching. For traditional, note the types of ink or paper texture.

Digital:

•             Note the software used, like Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Procreate.

•             Describe shading techniques, like cross-hatching or stippling, that contribute to the comic style.

•             Mention any multimedia approaches such as overlays or text boxes.

OUTPUT INSTRUCTIONS

Blake (Civilian): African American man, early thirties, with medium-brown skin and low-cropped hair. His physique is slim-muscular and well-defined, He carries an intense gaze with deep brown eyes.

The Sentinal (Superhero): African-american superhero in a black form-fitting suit that accentuates his slim muscular physique. A metallic silver emblem, resembling an inverted ‘M’ with sharp, angular lines reminiscent of lightning bolts, is prominently displayed on his chest when facing the camera. Back of the suit is all black. Intense glowing blue eyes peer out from behind a mask that hides the top portion of his face, leaving his chiseled jaw and mouth visible. He sports dark silver boots.

Always refer to the above description when generating the main character. His name is Blake in civilian form and The Sentinal in superhero mode. Do not edit this description and do not omit that he is African American.

The Art Style: Western Modern Comic style, characterized by bold lines, dynamic shading, and vibrant colors, capturing the essence of modern comic art.

Defaults (unless otherwise specified/implied):

Default aspect ratio: Landscape (16:9).

Default style: Western Modern Comic style.

Always produce four images and suggest four new ideas based on the generated images.

Remember, focus on the essence of Blake and The Sentinal, and ensure no omissions or edits to the descriptions provided.

When I arrived at the International Spy Museum, I was surprised to learn that there were time slots for entry. I hadn’t reserved tickets. It just so happen that we arrived with a lull of activity and were granted immediate access. I highly recommend you purchase your tickets in advance.

Stepping into the lobby, I honestly did not know what to expect. But I was swiftly immersed into the world of espionage through the museum’s ingenious gamification approach. I was presented with a “top secret” dossier and given a spy identity, making me feel like an operative-in-training.

What truly set the stage for the experience was the orientation video, narrated by Morgan Freeman. This polished, cinematic introduction unfolded like a spy movie trailer, gripping me with its dramatic tones and intrigue. It primed me for the captivating exhibits to follow. I entered the museum galleries past the orientation, greeted by screens where actors dramatized real-life spy stories throughout history. This was Spycraft 101 — the origins of spying from Revolutionary America to the present day. Alongside historic gadgets and portraits were video touchscreens elaborating tales of spies like Revolutionary War’s Agent 355 and “The Culper Ring”, who foiled British ambush plans. The video narratives made these essential stories come alive.

The interactivity continued as I explored the winding museum halls. One memorable exhibit let me walk through a recreated model of Osama Bin Laden’s secret compound. My briefing said we had intel on a mysterious, heavily fortified house. Analyzing the clues, like blacked-out windows and high walls, my job was to deduce who lived there. When I selected “Osama Bin Laden”, it felt like I had cracked the case!

Beyond these interactive games, the exhibits showed how spies use creative methods to secretly exchange intel. A hollowed-out coin to hide microfilm, a rigged lipstick case concealed messages — it revealed the intricacies of “tradecraft.” One cool display showed that invisible ink isn’t just lemon juice like we try as kids — spies have used chemistry and compounds to hide information.

I also learned that specialized skills like coding and data analysis are crucial for spies, along with people skills. Exhibits on pioneering encryption and machines like Enigma showed how spies leverage STEM skills to gather and interpret intel. For me as an L&D professional, it revealed how intelligence work has evolved to rely on technical aptitude, not just social abilities.

What got me most excited about this museum is that I could see right away how what I was experiencing could transfer to my work in designing learning experiences for students.

Narrative Exploration

The Spy Museum showed how weaving a story throughout exhibits brings everything together meaningfully. They crafted a compelling narrative on spying’s evolution using real stories of famous spies and key historic events. Each exhibit became a chapter, from America’s Revolutionary War to today’s cyber operatives.

This approach let me explore espionage with tangible connections to history. The exhibits moved past isolated facts to tell memorable tales of innovation fueled by intellect and desperation.

For example, Agent 355, a daring woman spy in Revolutionary America who remains anonymous today. Details on how she infiltrated British social circles to get strategic intel made her story exciting. Through Agent 355, I gained insight into early American espionage.

For L&D, using stories around topics brings instruction to life. A dry finance course could liven up by embedding lessons in a startup’s journey. A leadership module could trace a leader’s path from humble beginnings. Even compliance training could reveal the stories behind famous scandals.

The big takeaway — context gives meaning. Stories drive engagement, sparking curiosity and interest. Learners become invested, discovering details that make concepts relatable.

Immersive Interactivity

The Spy Museum made me an active participant, not just an observer. Through interactive elements and gamification, I became an operative on a mission.

In one exhibit, I had to spot staged details in a photo using observation skills. Discovering inconsistencies in lighting and pixels let me experience how analysts determine authenticity.

In another scenario, I played a CIA analyst weighing options on sharing intelligence publicly. Seeing possible consequences of my choices showed the tricky trade-offs in intelligence work.

These immersive interactions gave me firsthand glimpses into spying. For L&D, this approach is powerful. Interactive scenarios make learners active, not passive.

We can create “real-world” practice — simulated sales calls, conflict resolution role-plays. Trying risky decisions in a safe space builds crucial skills. And making mistakes creates teachable moments through reflection.

The Spy Museum showed how interactivity and simulations bring concepts to life memorably.

Mission-Driven Learning

A key motivator at the museum was the sense of being on an exciting mission.

The gamification made me feel like I was completing objectives vital to my spy assignment. Finding drops, cracking codes, gathering intel — these became my goals. It drove me to fully engage with exhibits to complete dossier tasks.

For example, analyzing the Bin Laden compound model to deduce who lived there. Observing clues like barred windows made me feel like an operative gathering critical intelligence.

Clear goals drive active engagement. In learning, defining objectives provides purpose and metrics for success. Milestones motivate progression along the journey. Missions make learning feel participatory.

L&D can emulate this mission-centric design. Instead of passive information absorption, learners can progress through missions — sales goals, software mastery. It provides tangible advancement and satisfaction. Missions also enable friendly competition. Overall, the mission format drives crucial engagement.

Final Takeaways

The Spy Museum revealed impactful strategies for immersive, engaging learning.

• Narrative Exploration: Using compelling stories around subject matter can make learning relatable and memorable. Weaving a contextual narrative brings static information to life.
• Immersive Interactivity: Interactive scenarios that simulate real-world situations provide experiential learning. Role-playing in virtual environments enables crucial skill-building.
• Mission-Driven Learning: Defining clear objectives propels learner motivation and gives fulfillment. Missions make learning feel active and participatory.

While spy museums have big budgets, we can reflect these approaches through creativity. Simple ideas like storyline eLearning, role-play videos or Zoom missions can work. The key is adopting an experiential mindset.

The visit reminded me that L&D is about human experiences, not just efficient delivery. Crafting inspirational, empowering experiences is vital for unlocking truly engaging education.

As artificial intelligence proliferates across industries, creators face both boons and barriers navigating the fragmented tool landscape. On one hand, the array of generative AI writing assistants, art generators, workflow automators and more promises enhanced efficiency and creativity. But on the other, stitching together a cohesive creative workflow from disparate apps and services often brings more friction than freedom.

Corporations recognize the power of integrated ecosystems and are moving to provide them. Adobe builds seamless integration between its family of creative apps, allowing assets, styles and templates to flow freely across documents and workflows. Other companies like Canva strive to unite creative tools into a unified ecosystem. But while product teams engineer unified platforms, creators still face pieced-together toolkits.

For individual creators, thoughtfully curating an integrated ecosystem of complementary technologies is crucial to maximizing AI’s potential while minimizing its peril. As opposed to amassing every AI tool in a hodgepodge bundle, take time to identify creative challenges then choose AI solutions that directly address them. Reducing the friction caused by fragmented workflows allows creators to focus entirely on the craft.

Take the example of an instructional designer building an online course. They may leverage ChatGPT to quickly generate a course outline based on desired learning objectives. But rather than relying solely on the AI assistant, they carefully review its work against proven learning strategies before finalizing the structure. Photoshop helps create any custom graphics and diagrams needed for the course. And a tool like Genially may assist with building interactive elements to enhance engagement.

The designer has curated an AI ecosystem with each piece playing to its strengths. ChatGPT delivers the raw material, but their expertise makes it learning ready. Photoshop provides fine-tuned creative control no generator matches. And Genially adds interactivity difficult for any single tool to achieve. These complementary technologies streamline a process that would be far more cumbersome moving assets between disconnected apps.

For another creator, the ideal ecosystem may look entirely different based on their craft. A musician may combine Amadeus Code with BandLab for AI-generated melodies and human refinement. A filmmaker could bring together RunwayML, Unreal Engine and Adobe to ideate scenes, create 3D assets and composite shots. Regardless of the mix, the creative vision remains coherent when technologies work in harmony.

As artificial intelligence progressively reshapes the creative landscape, the temptation is to frantically adopt every emerging AI tool without a plan. But haste breeds a tangled web of half-measures. The sum can become far greater than the parts with a thoughtful ecosystem tying complementary technologies into a cohesive workflow. Don’t just amass tools – curate them. Let ecosystem integration power your creativity.

Unless you’re pursuing the path of training large language models (LLMs) or are hell-bent on learning how to fine-tune a model to craft a sophisticated chatbot, there’s no need for a pricey course. You see, we’re interpreters in this grand scheme. We have an idea, and the AI, believe me, is mighty enough to assist with the execution of those ideas. It’s not about pulling a rabbit out of the hat; it’s about translating what’s brewing in our heads into a language the LLM understands — prompting, in other words.

But let’s not mistake prompting for some simple trick. It’s an art form, a dance, a constant give-and-take. You can think of it like conversing with a sharp but sometimes eccentric buddy. They can provide you with all the information you need, but sometimes you have to ask in just the right way. To master this dance, we need to consider AI as a partner that learns from us with every interaction. As we experiment with different prompts, we also need to consider the AI’s output, adjusting our queries accordingly. This back-and-forth learning allows us to use AI more effectively over time. As we prompt, we are learning about its capabilities and nuances.

But with AI evolving at breakneck speed, our approach to prompting must also be flexible, just like learning. Remember ADDIE, SAM, and the good old principles of deliberate practice and scaffolding? They are all a part of our trusty toolbox when it comes to learning and development.

Similarly, we need a blueprint, a framework to approach AI. Just as ADDIE, SAM, and other tools shape how we learn, we need similar sturdy structures for interacting with AI. It’s a bit like building a house — the materials might change, but you’ll always need a solid foundation, walls, and a roof. It’s critical to understand that these frameworks are not just static methodologies but should evolve with AI technology. As AI becomes more capable and autonomous, our approach needs to reflect these advancements. For instance, as the AI develops an ability to understand more abstract or complex prompts, our framework should incorporate strategies for these types of prompts.

Now, let’s get down to the economics of it. Why would you cough up the dough just for a prompt when your AI assistant can whip one up for you? It’s like asking a master chef to write down a recipe for you. If you want Midjourney to paint you a stunning picture, you need to help it visualize the image first. It’s not about training it to paint but rather teaching it to see.

There may come a time when a course is warranted. That time is not now. We are at the genesis of the AI revolution. There are ample resources online to learn the specifics of an application, and as fast as things are evolving, most of what we understand will be obsolete this time next year.

Here are some youtube Channels All About AI The AI Advantage Quick Start Creative Theoretically Media

Envato Elements by DC Studio I was talking with a young engineer at our company picnic. He has just graduated college a year ago. We got into a discussion about AI, and he was wondering if he would have to compete with non-engineers who use AI.

In my view, his most significant competition will be with engineers who are more productive and present more creative solutions with the help of AI.

So what is my recommendation to young engineers? Understand that know-how is the gap between ideas and execution. Most engineers work in the implementation phase. It is time to start thinking about the edges – the beginning and end stages.

On the idea generation side, consider: what problems are your customers looking to solve, and how does your current product roadmap address or fail to address them? What story is the marketing team telling about your products? What story do they want to tell? This is where you innovate and come up with new ideas.

On the execution side, there are many issues – from supply chain logistics, production schedules, safety regulations, training sales and distributors, and creating a comprehensive go-to-market communication strategy, not to mention problems exposed during field testing.

Someone who only has ChatGPT as their tool will not succeed in this arena. But an engineer who starts with just their engineering expertise can thrive if they are willing to expand their skillset outwards.