AI + Human Insight: Better Learning by Design

Chronicle of Higher Education Partner Webinar Recap 

Hosted by: Six Red Marbles
Presenters: Simon Walter (AVP), Jackielee Derks (Lead ID), Jessica Hecht (Lead ID) 

As artificial intelligence rapidly expands what’s possible in course design, the true differentiator for higher education remains human insight. In this Chronicle of Higher Education–sponsored webinar, Six Red Marbles introduced AI + HI (Human Intelligence): a practical, design-centered framework for using AI to amplify, not automate, teaching and learning. 

AI can accelerate workflows, but human expertise ensures quality, equity, and creativity. When paired intentionally, AI and human judgment allow institutions to scale course development and revision without sacrificing academic rigor, instructional integrity, or institutional control. 

Why Now? The Urgency of Integration 

The conversation around AI in higher education has moved decisively from if to how. Students are already using AI. Faculty and instructional designers are experimenting in real time. Meanwhile, institutions are balancing innovation with accessibility mandates, accreditation requirements, curriculum refresh cycles, and mounting administrative pressure. 

Rather than positioning AI as a disruptive force, Six Red Marbles framed it as a capacity multiplier—particularly effective for admin-heavy and production-intensive aspects of course design, such as: 

• Large-scale course revisions and LMS migrations 

• Accessibility checks and remediation across programs 

• Content curation and first-draft instructional materials 

Handled well, AI creates space for instructors and designers to focus on what matters most: learning outcomes, assessment integrity, mentorship, and meaningful student engagement. 

The AI + HI Workflow: A Four-Stage Model 

At the heart of the webinar was the AI + HI Workflow, a design framework developed by Six Red Marbles that aligns with traditional instructional design models (such as ADDIE) while modernizing them for an AI-enabled environment. The fundamentals of good course design remain unchanged. AI simply helps institutions execute them more efficiently and consistently. 

1. Ideate (The Brainstorming Phase)

AI supports early exploration and alignment mapping. 

• Strategy: Use intentionally “imperfect prompts” to generate multiple options for course structures, learning activities, or assessment approaches tied to program-level outcomes. 

• HI Factor: Instructional designers and faculty apply disciplinary expertise to evaluate options for academic rigor, learner level, and institutional context. 

2. Create & Refine (The Drafting Phase)

AI assists with drafting instructional materials and learning activities. 

• Strategy: Use AI to help design authentic higher-ed assessments, such as case analyses, policy briefs, research proposals, or simulated professional scenarios aligned to undergraduate or graduate programs. 

• HI Factor: Human designers refine these drafts—ensuring alignment with learning objectives, scaffolding student support, and building in clear evaluation criteria and academic expectations. 

This is where SRM’s instructional design expertise is critical: AI accelerates drafting, but designers ensure the course works pedagogically. 

3. Review (The Quality & Equity Phase)

AI supports consistency and accessibility checks at scale. 

• Strategy: Generate alt text, review heading hierarchies, flag color contrast issues, and suggest alternative assignment modalities that meet the same learning objectives. 

• HI Factor: Human quality assurance is non-negotiable. Accessibility, assessment validity, and inclusive design require expert review—particularly in higher education, where requirements vary by discipline and accreditor. 

4. Evaluate (The Data & Improvement Phase)

AI accelerates analysis; humans drive insight. 

• Strategy: Use AI to synthesize de-identified student feedback, course evaluations, and LMS analytics to identify patterns across sections or programs. 

• HI Factor: Instructional designers interpret results in context—translating data into targeted course improvements that support student success and program goals. 

Strategic Pillars for Institutions 

Security and Privacy: The “Closed Model” Distinction 

A key leadership takeaway was the distinction between paid/public AI tools and closed, enterprise AI environments. 

• Personal subscriptions may still contribute data to public models. 

• Enterprise “closed” models—like those used by Six Red Marbles—protect institutional IP and student data. 

Rule of thumb: When using public tools, always de-identify data. No student names, IDs, or sensitive information.  

Institutional Adoption: Start Small, Scale Smart 

Rather than rushing into sweeping policies, Six Red Marbles recommends a pilot-first approach grounded in course design practice: 

• Pilot AI + HI workflows within a single course or program 

• Establish shared design guidelines before formal policies 

• Use pilot outcomes to inform governance and scaling 

• Convene short faculty roundtables to share design practices and lessons learned 

This approach builds trust, design capacity, and evidence—before institutionalizing change. 

Final Thoughts: The Future is Collaborative 

AI is not a shortcut to quality learning. It is a powerful tool—but only when paired with human insight, instructional design expertise, and ethical judgment. 

Six Red Marbles emphasized its role as a fee-for-service course design partner, working transparently alongside institutions to integrate AI responsibly into learning design workflows. Whether a campus is cautiously exploring AI or actively scaling its use, the goal remains the same: learning experiences that are authentic, equitable, and effective by design. 

Watch the Webinar 

We recorded AI + Human Insight: Better Learning by Design, hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education and presented by Six Red Marbles. 

The session walks through the AI + HI workflow step by step, with higher education–specific examples you can adapt for your own courses and programs.