Combining Design Thinking and AI for Interactive Microlearning Videos
As an Instructional Designer, I have always been attracted to the challenge of making complex concepts simple. In education, where time is a luxury and engagement can be difficult, I asked: How can I deliver impactful learning sessions in just a few minutes? The answer manifested itself in small learning videos—bite-sized, learner-centered, and focused. But the real magic happened when I approached content creation with a design thinking framework—a process that turned problems into stories and solutions.
Principles of Design Thinking
1. Feel for him
It started with listening. I sat down with teachers, students, and staff, hearing their frustrations—like a professor scoffing at calendars or a worker overwhelmed by new tools. Their struggles became stories waiting to be told.
2. Explain
From these conversations, I reframed the problems into scenarios: What does this look like in their world? For the professor, it was a chaos of meetings. This step gave me clarity and direction.
3. Ideate
For a clear scenario, I partnered with AI tools to think. Together, we wrote short texts, examples built for relatability, and designed graphics that brought these stories to life. To connect aurally, I used AI voiceovers, ensuring the tone and language were clear, engaging, and multilingual.
4. Prototype
I shared earlier versions of the videos—not perfect but doable—with small groups. Their response was like an editor polishing a rough draft, shaping the narrative until it clicked.
5. Test
Finally, I watched the students interact with the videos. Were they engaged? Did they leave with answers? Their reactions told me where to adjust, making sure that every minute was delivered with value.
By treating each stage as a storytelling process, design thinking helped me turn challenges into solutions that students could see, feel, and relate to—turning minutes into moments that really matter.
Making Microlearning Videos with Design Thinking and AI: A Process Overview
1. Sensitivity: Listening to the Community
All good solutions start with understanding the user. I began with a series of interviews—focusing on the experiences of teachers, students, and staff. Rather than digging deep, I dug deep to uncover their pain points and needs.
- A professor shared frustrations about synchronizing calendars for group projects.
- The assistant dean described feeling overwhelmed by new tools with no clear direction.
- A staff member highlighted a lack of accessible resources for Spanish-speaking students.
These ideas were more than problematic; were opportunities to create meaningful learning solutions. I wrote these conversations as thoughts in my journal, maintaining objectivity and empathy.
To further explain these issues, I used an AI chatbot to turn my notes into actionable research questions. For example: How can we teach calendar synchronization in a clear and engaging way? From there, I created a mind map with seven core questions, each addressing a specific need in the community.
2. Define: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
With a clear understanding of the users’ challenges, I reframed each problem as a scenario to support my approach: To synchronize the calendar, I envisioned: A professor who rushes many classes and meetings needs a clear, simple guide to coordinate calendars well.
I then asked the chatbot to refine my ideas: “What steps should a microlearning video include to make calendar integration easy, engaging, and effective?” The AI ​​feedback provided a structured framework that became a guide for the video content. This step ensured that the problem remained student-centered and connected to real-world needs.
3. Ideate: Creating a Video Idea
With the situation set, I started thinking about solutions and working in collaboration with AI to bring the content to life:
Script Development
The next step was to bring my vision to life. I started by writing the script, and that’s when the chatbot really became my creator. It helped me fine-tune the language, making sure the tone was professional and approachable while keeping the video cohesive. The script was short—two minutes at most—and focused on solving one problem: merging calendars. Example: “Create a 2-minute script on combining calendars, using real-life situations and keeping a fun, clear tone.”
Visual design
I turned to an online graphic design tool to create clean, polished slides that matched the script. The visuals were purposeful, emphasizing key actions such as the “sync” buttons and the calendar view without overloading the reader.
Accessibility and Voiceovers
AI-powered voice generators allowed me to create audio narrations in both English and Spanish, ensuring that the content is inclusive and accessible to all readers. I adjusted the tone and pacing to match the visual flow. Synchronizing the voiceover with the images was a delicate process, but with careful timing, the result was flawless, providing a smooth, immersive reading experience for all viewers.
Together, these elements create a cohesive, engaging, and reader-centric video model.
4. Prototype: Bringing the Idea to Students
Once the microlearning video was ready, I shared it with the community using a multi-pronged approach:
Easy Access
I’ve uploaded the video to our training hub, making sure it’s searchable, well organized, and categorized for quick access. On the video platform, I’ve made the title and description more searchable, making sure that anyone looking for help putting together a calendar can easily stumble upon it.
Community Participation
But my favorite part was when the video became part of the community of practice. This is where participants can explore challenges together, share their knowledge, and collaborate in real time. Watching the students click the game, absorb the information, and immediately apply it was a moment when I knew all the efforts had paid off. During the community of practice, students watch a video, share insights, and discuss challenges collaboratively. Seeing them consume the content immediately confirmed its impact.
The experience also triggered the creation of a feedback loop regarding the use of calendar tools. As students shared their thoughts and challenges, I was able to gain new insights, which helped me refine the video content to better meet their needs. This phase wasn’t just about delivery—it was about observation, gathering feedback, and continually refining the solution. It was a continuous cycle of improvement that not only enhanced the learning experience but also deepened my understanding of how to better support the evolving needs of society.
5. Testing: Refinement through Continuous Feedback
The true power of design thinking lies in its iterative nature. The answer came almost immediately. Many users praised the clarity of the videos, while others suggested additional features or support for different languages. Using AI tools again, I analyzed their input to prepare the next set of videos. Each iteration has been refined, inclusive, and tailored to the evolving needs of students.
AI-enabled workflows for creating slides and documents made this adjustment easy. Changes are made quickly, keeping the content fresh, responsive, and tailored to the needs of the audience. This approach also ensured that training was always effective, quickly adapting to new technology releases and keeping students connected and invested in all the knowledge.
Using AI tools, I analyze feedback and make changes in real time:
- The documents have been updated.
- The visuals were well executed.
- New videos have been produced to address changing needs.
What really set this process apart was its immediacy—it all happened in real time during course delivery. Users saw their suggestions integrated seamlessly into the videos, creating a sense of collaboration and ownership. This greatly increased engagement as participants felt like co-creators of the course.
This immediate feedback created a feedback loop where students felt heard and involved—turning them into active participants. By combining their suggestions, the videos are always fresh, relevant and engaging.
Impact: Empowering Solutions
What started as conversations turned into solutions that empower students. These mini-learning videos weren’t just tools—they were bridges that connected users to information in an accessible, timely, and actionable way.
The design thinking process—sensing, defining, conceptualizing, prototyping, and testing—ensured that each video addressed a real need and delivered immediate value. But the process did not end there. Each step feeds into the next, creating an improvement cycle. Each time, feedback became fuel, turning challenges into opportunities and turning the content into an ever-better version of itself.
AI has been the driving force behind this journey. It directed script writing, refined visuals, and ensured the inclusion of multilingual audio, making the process faster and smarter. AI tools didn’t replace creativity—they augmented it, helping me explore ideas I hadn’t considered and quickly test solutions.
Together, design thinking and AI create a continuous system—a constant story of learning, refining, and innovating. Each video was a stepping stone, building to a larger vision of accessible, student-centered education that thrives alongside the world it serves. By constantly iterating and focusing on students, I have found new ways to make learning impactful, one learning video at a time.
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