The Future of Learning: Emerging Technology and Pedagogical Innovation

How will learning evolve over the next decade? How can educators, instructional designers, and learning experience professionals create more engaging, effective, and personalized learning experiences enabled by emerging innovations? Rooted in established learning science and pedagogical frameworks, this course explores how the latest educational technologies are reshaping learning experiences. Through a blend of design challenges, discussions on the science of learning, expert dialogues, and case studies, students critically analyze and prototype new learning experiences. The course begins with a foundational exploration of the learning ecosystem—examining the blueprint of a learning organization, core learning design principles, and what makes learning experiences effective. From there, students engage in a series of hands-on labs, where they experiment with the convergence of emerging technologies (for example, generative artificial intelligence [AI], immersive learning platforms, and social learning tools) and research-backed pedagogical frameworks. Students apply concepts from the learning science —including dual-coding theory, the zone of proximal development, experiential learning theories, and behavior change models—to design technology-enhanced learning experiences that drive deeper engagement and learning outcomes. By the end of the course, students have completed a portfolio of innovative learning designs and experiences and developed a deeper understanding of learning innovation.