Toolkit & Templates

Act as an instructional designer. My topic is [TOPIC] for [LEVEL, e.g. Year 1 undergraduate] students in [DISCIPLINE].
Write 3 learning outcomes for a self-instructional material (SIM).
Rules: start with "By the end, the learner will be able to", use ONE observable Bloom verb each, no "understand/know/appreciate", no "and", and each outcome must be assessable in under 10 minutes.
Then, for each outcome, suggest one matching check activity.

Draft a 10-minute Nano-SIM on [TOPIC] for [LEARNERS].
Structure it exactly as:
HOOK (30 seconds, a realistic problem or misconception)
TEACH (300-500 words, plain language, one worked example, one suggested visual described in a caption)
TRY (one small application task with clear instructions)
CHECK (answer + why it is right + what to do if the learner got it wrong)
Constraints: conversational tutorial voice, address the learner as "you", no jargon without a one-line definition, minimise cognitive load (short paragraphs, no decorative detail).

I am building a Micro-SIM (60-90 minutes of learner time) on [UNIT TOPIC] for [LEARNERS].
Break it into 3-4 chunks. For each chunk give: sub-outcome, key ideas (max 4 bullets), suggested format (text, video, H5P, quiz), learner time, and one formative check.
Then propose: a prior-knowledge check at the start, one integration activity that combines all chunks, and a unit self-assessment of 5 items with model answers.
Sequence chunks from simple to complex and state the logic of the order in one sentence.

Rewrite the material below as self-instructional text that teaches in my absence.
Requirements: second-person tutorial voice; signal what is coming ("In this section you will...") ; explain, don't list; insert 2 embedded questions with answers the learner can self-check; add a "Common mistake" note; keep sentences under 22 words; end with a 2-line summary.
Do not add facts that are not in my material.
MATERIAL:
[PASTE YOUR SLIDES / NOTES / READING SUMMARY]

Create 6 self-check items for a SIM on [TOPIC] at [LEVEL].
Mix: 3 multiple-choice (4 options), 2 short-answer, 1 scenario-based.
For every MCQ distractor, state the specific misconception it targets.
For every item, write feedback that TEACHES: why the correct answer works, why the chosen wrong answer is tempting, and one next step.
Map each item to this outcome: [OUTCOME].

Produce a worked example for [TOPIC] in [DISCIPLINE].
Give: (1) the problem or case, (2) a step-by-step solution where each step states the reasoning, not just the action, (3) a "watch out" line for the step learners usually get wrong, (4) a faded version of the same problem with the last two steps left for the learner, and (5) the answer key with explanation.

Audit my SIM draft for constructive alignment.
Return a table: Outcome | Content that teaches it | Activity | Check/evidence | Verdict (aligned / weak / missing).
Then list: outcomes with no assessment, activities with no outcome, and content that serves no outcome (candidates to cut).
Be blunt and specific.
DRAFT:
[PASTE YOUR SIM OUTLINE]

Review the SIM draft below against five criteria and score each 1-5 with the exact evidence from my text:
1) Self-explanatory — can a learner follow it with no lecturer present?
2) Self-contained — is everything needed included or clearly linked?
3) Self-directed — is the learner told what to do and in what order?
4) Self-motivating — is relevance made explicit; is the tone encouraging?
5) Self-evaluating — can learners judge their own progress?
For each criterion give ONE concrete revision I can make in under 10 minutes.
DRAFT:
[PASTE DRAFT]

Revise the text below for accessibility and inclusivity.
Do: simplify to roughly [B2 / undergraduate] reading level, expand acronyms on first use, replace culture-specific examples with widely understood ones, write alt-text for every image I describe, convert dense paragraphs into meaningful headings and lists, and flag any instruction that relies on colour, sound or a mouse alone.
Return the revised text, then a short list of what you changed and why.
TEXT:
[PASTE TEXT]

Turn this Micro-SIM into a stackable micro-credential proposal: [UNIT TOPIC], [LEARNER TIME] hours.
Provide: credential title, target learners, 3-4 outcomes, notional learning hours, evidence/assessment for each outcome, criteria for award (pass standard), skills tags for a digital badge, and how it stacks toward [PROGRAMME/COURSE].

Write the front matter for a Macro-SIM on [COURSE] with [N] units over [N] weeks.
Include: a welcome message (warm, 120 words), how to use this material, what you need before you start, a week-by-week study schedule with estimated hours, assessment overview with deadlines, study tips specific to this subject, and a short FAQ of 5 questions learners actually ask.

Rewrite my instructions below in a tutorial voice — as if I am sitting beside ONE learner guiding them.
Do: speak directly to the learner as "you"; say what they are about to do and why it matters in one line; break the task into numbered steps starting with an action verb; add a short "You'll know you're on track when..." cue; add one "If you get stuck" tip; keep sentences under 20 words and warm but not chatty.
Don't: add new requirements, change deadlines, marks or rules, or use words like "delve", "leverage", "embark".
Return: (1) the rewritten instructions, (2) a 2-line note on what tone changes you made.
MY INSTRUCTIONS:
[PASTE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS]

Turn the content below into conversational self-instructional text that teaches when I am not there.
Style rules: second person ("you"); ask the learner a question before explaining, then answer it; use signposts ("First...", "Now try this...", "Notice that..."); use contractions; one idea per short paragraph; define each new term in one plain line; add an analogy the learner already knows.
Include: an opening line telling the learner what they will be able to do; 2 embedded self-check questions with answers hidden under "Check your answer:"; a "Common mistake" note; a 2-line "In short" summary.
Constraints: do not invent facts beyond my content; keep all technical accuracy; reading level around [B2 / Year 1 undergraduate].
Return the rewritten text only, ready to paste into my SIM.
MY CONTENT:
[PASTE YOUR NOTES / SLIDES]