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Course

Emergent Technologies and Ai

EDUC-42597

Emergent Technologies and AI
No Prerequisite | 10 Weeks
Format: Asynchronous Online with Instructor Feedback and Guidance Throughout

Transform your professional practice with the power of artificial intelligence! This hands-on, ten-week course takes you from AI curious to AI confident, equipping you with both the technical understanding and practical skills to revolutionize how you work.

Course Details

In this course, we’ll pull back the curtain on the AI tools you use daily. We'll explore the foundational concepts that allow AI to generate text, images, and ideas, giving you the confidence that comes from truly understanding your toolkit. This deeper knowledge will empower you to master advanced prompting techniques and strategically apply AI across your workflow, from brainstorming to final delivery.

Through a scaffolded series of hands-on projects culminating in a final capstone, you will use AI to build a comprehensive course prototype from the ground up. You will learn to create accessible, engaging, and personalized content and experiences, all while navigating the critical ethical considerations of using AI.

Join us to transform your practice, moving from simply using AI to strategically leveraging it. Enroll in Emerging Technologies and AI and become a future-ready professional, equipped with the skills and deep knowledge to innovate and lead in this new era.

Learners

This course is designed for any professional or lifelong learner eager to move from being a casual user to a confident, strategic practitioner of artificial intelligence. It is ideal for:

  • Aspiring and practicing instructional designers seeking to master the tools that are revolutionizing digital learning.
  • Professionals in any field who want to understand AI on a deeper level and integrate it into their workflow to boost productivity and drive innovation.
  • Anyone curious about AI who wants to look "under the hood" to understand how this technology works, and to use it more effectively and ethically in their personal and professional lives.

While the course uses instructional design as a practical framework to explore AI (including a capstone project using AI to design online training), the skills you'll master—such as advanced prompting, strategic content generation, and ethical AI integration—are universally applicable and valuable across all industries.

What You'll Learn

  • Explain core AI concepts and articulate how modern AI models (especially Large Language Models) function in general terms.
  • Apply advanced prompt-engineering techniques to tackle complex challenges and unlock creative possibilities.
  • Integrate generative AI tools into multiple phases of a project lifecycle to create a comprehensive lesson prototype for an online course.
  • Use AI to design accessible learning activities that foster engagement and provide personalized support.
  • Articulate ethical considerations when deploying AI in professional and educational contexts.

Course Information

Online
3.00 units
$695.00
Notes: Quarters Offered: Spring, Fall
Flexible Enrollment: This course is an Elective Course for the Instructional Design Professional Certificate but is open to all students, even if you're not enrolled in the Certificate Program. 
Academic Calendar: The Academic Calendar shows the open enrollment dates and term start dates for each quarter. Courses do not necessarily start on the first day of the term.  

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This course applies to these programs

Instructional Design

Course sessions

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Section ID:

195012

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 1/16/2026
  • Early enrollment advised
  • No UCSD parking permit required
  • No visitors permitted

Note:

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required but there is a course start and end date and weekly assignment due dates, beginning week 1. You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
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Instructor: Barbara Ludwig, MA, MS

Barbara Ludwig, MA, MS
Barbara Ludwig is an experienced learning architect and instructional designer with a deep background in cloud technologies and online social collaboration strategies. With extensive experience at leading high-tech companies such as Amazon Web Services and Qualcomm, Barbara has designed and implemented learning initiatives that have upskilled global workforces of thousands of engineers in highly technical fields, while also leading the rollout of large-scale enterprise collaboration platforms. She excels at translating complex technical concepts into accessible online learning experiences, making learning engaging, inclusive, and impactful.

Barbara holds two Masters degrees: an MA in French Literature, during which she gained valuable teaching experience that sparked her interest in instructional design, and an MS in Instructional Systems Technology. She is passionate about developing cutting-edge, technology-driven solutions that empower adult learners to excel in their careers. Barbara is particularly passionate about using generative AI to transform learning into a more customized, sticky, and engaging experience.

Barbara holds the following certificates: AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer, AWS Certified AI Practitioner, Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator.  

In her spare time, you may find her on her yoga mat or volunteering as tech support for local seniors.
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