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Getting Started with AI: An Interactive Course for Corporate Employees

Corporate Training · 2025
Abstract AI illustration
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Overview

When asked, "If I needed to make an AI course for corporate employees, how would it look?" I wanted to make a very minimal, simple but appealing course to explain some basic AI concepts to employees and give them some basic tips to getting started using them in their corporate jobs.

So, I wanted to create a course that would both clarify AI concepts for everyday office workers and introduce a better delivery method in the interaction of the course.

My idea was to create an experience where employees could:

Most importantly, I wanted to break away from the common 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio that plagues corporate eLearning slides and presentations, and give them instead a flat teal canvas where the elements could feel and be placed more freely on different devices (desktop and mobile).

My theory was that giving learners control over their pace and interaction with the content would increase engagement and knowledge retention, especially for a topic that can feel intimidating to non-technical employees who feel that AI is just around the corner but don't know how to grasp and where to start with AI.

Team working illustration

My Role & Key Actions

As the sole instructional designer, UX-UI designer, and developer on this project, I handled the entire creation process:

The primary challenge was balancing technical accuracy with accessibility - ensuring the content remained factually correct while being approachable for employees without technical backgrounds. Additionally, implementing the mouse-wheel navigation required solving for various edge cases to ensure the experience remained intuitive across different devices and user behaviors.

Process

Research & Content Strategy

I began with extensive research into how AI concepts are currently explained to non-technical audiences. I reviewed existing corporate training materials, academic resources, and popular media explanations of AI. This revealed a common pattern: most materials either oversimplified to the point of inaccuracy or overwhelmed with technical specifics.

To find the right balance, I created a content hierarchy that started with everyday analogies before gradually introducing more specific concepts. For example, explaining machine learning first through the lens of "learning from examples" before introducing concepts like training data and algorithms.

For the practical application component, I audited Microsoft 365's AI capabilities, focusing on features that:

I supplemented this with research into third-party tools that had strong enterprise adoption, security credentials, and user-friendly interfaces.

UX Design Approach

The conventional "next button" navigation creates a passive learning experience where users simply click through content at a predetermined pace. To improve this approach, I explored alternative interaction patterns that would give users more agency.

After experimenting with several approaches (horizontal scrolling, click-to-reveal, and others), I settled on a mouse-wheel triggered progressive disclosure system. This approach:

For the visual design, I created mood boards pulling inspiration from minimalist UI designs on Dribbble and Figma community templates. I wanted a clean, uncluttered interface that:

Development & Implementation

The mouse-wheel navigation required careful JavaScript implementation. I developed a system that:

For the content structure, I organized information into discrete modules covering:

Each module was designed to build on previous knowledge while standing relatively independent, allowing users to focus on areas most relevant to their needs.

Minimalist workspace

Challenges

Technical Implementation Challenges

For the technical implementation, I developed custom JavaScript solutions with debounced scroll events and carefully calibrated trigger thresholds.

Content Development Challenges

The content challenges were addressed through multiple rounds of simplification and validation with non-technical reviewers.

Design Challenges

Design solutions emerged through mood board exploration and prototyping various visual approaches before settling on the final minimalist aesthetic that complemented the illustration style.
Creative design process

Results

The final course successfully delivers on the original goal of creating an engaging, user-controlled learning experience about AI for corporate employees. Key outcomes include:

Initial user testing with a small group of corporate employees showed promising results:

The most satisfying outcome was watching users' behavior during testing - seeing them slow down at complex concepts and quickly scan through familiar material demonstrated the value of putting pace control in their hands.

While full implementation metrics are still being gathered, early indications suggest this approach to eLearning could significantly improve engagement with technical content in corporate environments. The project has also provided valuable insights into how interaction design can influence learning experiences - lessons I'll carry forward into future instructional design work.

By rethinking both content approach and interaction design, this project demonstrates how eLearning can move beyond passive click-through experiences into more engaging, learner-centered knowledge journeys.

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