Human-Centered Design in an AI World: Quality and Student Success

As AI becomes more integrated into online course and program design, many institutions are wrestling with a practical question: how do we use AI to improve quality and student success without drifting into “automation-first” decisions that erode trust, equity, and human judgment?

In this WCET Closer Conversation, Quality Matters and iDesign invited WCET members into a candid, interactive discussion about human-centered design in an AI world. Rather than focusing on specific tools or one-size-fits-all prescriptions, attendees explored real decision points institutions are navigating: where AI can enhance learning experiences, where it can unintentionally diminish quality, how faculty and students are experiencing AI in day-to-day teaching and learning, and what it looks like to keep quality, equity, and transparency at the center.

Key Takeaways

• Human-centered design lens: Explore where AI supports human-centered online learning and where it risks undermining quality and student trust.
• Faculty + student realities: Surface what faculty and students are actually experiencing, including readiness, resistance, and “surprise moments” that shape adoption.
• Quality-aligned decisions: Identify practical considerations for aligning everyday AI use with quality standards, equity goals, and ethical design choices.

Discussion Leaders