AI is here, and it’s not just for techies. What does that mean for instructional designers? In this recorded webinar,  UW Professional & Continuing Education, instructors Ronnie Ashline and Matthew Saavedra will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of learning and development — and why growing your skills is critical.

Through the story of two designers tackling the same project — one using traditional methods, the other leveraging AI — you’ll see how different the results can be. We’ll discuss what this means for speed, ROI and personalization and reveal how AI is not just a tool but a transformational force in the ID profession.

Whether you're just starting to explore AI or already experimenting with tools, this session will help you future-proof your career, elevate your impact and position yourself as a strategic leader in the age of intelligent design.

About the speakers:

Ronnie Ashline

If you want to transform e-learning into something memorable and useful, Ronnie Ashline can help. Ashline has spent 16 years building learning experiences and has long been an active learner and a self-taught critic of the implementation of experiential and blended learning. In addition to consulting, designing and building for schools, companies and other organizations, she also enjoys trying out new learning methods with her two young children.  

Ashline is currently an instructor for the UW Certificate in E-Learning Instructional Design and the Generative AI for Instructional Design course and received a Teaching Excellence Award in 2025.

Matthew Saavedra

Matt Saavedra is a training and development manager at LifeCenter Northwest with more than 15 years of experience in the field of e-learning and instructional design. He has worked on instructional design jobs and implemented large-scale learning management systems for corporate and public institutions. At LifeCenter Northwest, Saavedra supports workplace learning and development for organ donations across Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.

A longtime instructor for the Certificate in E-Learning Instructional Design, he received a Teaching Excellence Award in 2019 and holds an MBA from Washington State University.

Learn More and Apply

Visit our UW Certificate in E-Learning Instructional Design and Generative AI for Instructional Design course pages to learn how to apply to our programs.

For more career tips and industry trends, visit the News & Features section of our website, and subscribe to our email list. To learn more about UW Professional & Continuing Education certificates, specializations, degrees and courses, explore your options or contact us.