The inaugural episode of WGU Labs' Inside the Learning Experience Podcast is live!
Inside the Learning Experience explores the future of education through conversations with experts in learning design, technology, and academic research, diving into the evolution of learning, the challenges students face, and how we can create more effective, equitable, and impactful educational experiences.
Traditional assessments — think multiple choice tests and memorization drills—have long dominated classrooms, but they often fall short in measuring how well students can apply their learning in real-world contexts. In this episode of Inside The Learning Experience, we explore how generative AI is reshaping the future of assessments by making authentic, skill-based learning experiences more accessible and scalable.
Authentic assessments, such as simulations, role-plays, and scenario-based tasks, give students a chance to demonstrate critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. The challenge? These assessments are time-consuming and difficult to scale — until now. Generative AI offers powerful tools to simulate real-life situations, deliver personalized feedback, and support teachers in designing meaningful evaluations that go beyond the scantron.
But AI isn’t here to replace educators. Instead, it enhances human judgment by providing real-time insights and flexible, personalized learning paths. This episode highlights how educators can integrate AI into their practice while keeping students at the center — developing skills that matter both in and out of the classroom.
Hosted by Research Director Dr. Betheny Gross and featuring Lead Learning Experience Designer Lesley Reilly, the conversation dives into how AI has the capability to reshape assessment to be more dynamic, equitable, and student-centered. Watch or listen using the links below to explore the future of teaching, learning, and authentic evaluation.
