Learning Ecosystem Integration Framework (LEIF)
My current idea for the instructional design project centers on developing the Learning Ecosystem Integration Framework (LEIF), a professional learning module that equips educators and instructional designers with strategies to ethically and effectively integrate artificial intelligence, Universal Design for Learning, and experiential learning principles into cohesive, data-informed ecosystems. I first conceived this idea after reading a LinkedIn discussion about the urgent need for frameworks that help instructional designers adapt to emerging AI tools while maintaining human-centered, ethical practices. The conversation resonated deeply with me, and it inspired me to create a model that bridges theory and practice in a meaningful, measurable way.
At this stage of development, I feel most confident in my ability to structure the module using backward design principles. My learning objectives, assessments, and instructional activities are tightly aligned, and the LEIF framework provides a strong conceptual foundation for ethical, reflective, and adaptive learning design. I also feel confident about the tools I have chosen, though I am still experimenting with them, which support accessibility and encourage collaboration and reflection across different learner preferences and modalities.
One challenge I am still working through involves sequencing the content and ensuring that learners experience a clear, logical progression from understanding the theory to applying it in practice. I am also considering how to measure abstract outcomes such as ethical decision-making, design reasoning, and reflective growth within an asynchronous online environment. Finally, I continue to reflect on how to maintain balance between offering learners autonomy and providing sufficient guidance within the digital space.
Overall, this stage of the process has helped me better understand how instructional designers can model the same thoughtful, inclusive, and data-informed design practices we want learners to adopt. While there are still questions to explore, I feel confident that the LEIF framework represents a timely and practical response to the evolving demands of the instructional design field.
