Embracing AI as Your Creative Partner with T. Renee Smith
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, many professionals find themselves at a crossroads—embrace this new technology or resist it out of fear or ethical concerns. In episode 76 of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin explores this territory with T. Renee Smith, author, instructional designer, and founder of iSuccess Consulting, who offers a refreshing perspective on AI's role in instructional design and beyond.
T. Renee's journey into AI began from a deeply personal place—seeking help for her neurodiverse son during a challenging IEP meeting. Feeling frustrated and confused, she turned to AI for assistance, which sparked what would become a passionate advocacy for AI as a tool for empowerment rather than replacement. This experience eventually led to her book, "She Leads with AI," which aims to help women leverage AI across every aspect of their lives—professional, personal, and everything in between.
One of the most compelling discussions in the episode centers around the common concern that using AI feels like "cheating." T Renee dismantles this misconception with a powerful analogy: "When you get in a car and use the technology of driving a car, is that cheating? Because you could walk and you could ride a horse." She encourages listeners to view AI as they would any other technological advancement—a tool that enhances what you already have. Just as we don't consider using ovens or cars as "cheating," AI should be viewed as a means to amplify our capabilities rather than replace them.
For instructional designers specifically, T Renee emphasizes that AI's output is only as good as the input it receives. "If you put in great stuff, then it gives you back even greater stuff. If you put in stuff that's not good, you're going to get back stuff that's not good." This highlights the continued importance of human expertise and judgment—AI isn't eliminating the need for skilled professionals; it's changing how they work and potentially expanding what they can accomplish.
The conversation also delves into practical applications of AI for inclusive learning design. T Renee describes how she creates personalized learning experiences for neurodiverse students by building learner profiles that include their interests, learning styles, and current skill levels. Using AI, she can quickly develop a customized curriculum that meets students where they are and engages them through their personal interests—whether that's basketball, swimming, or any other passion. This personalization, which would be extremely time-consuming to do manually, becomes scalable with AI assistance.
Beyond instructional design, T. Renee offers valuable insights on achieving what she calls "work-life harmony" rather than work-life balance. She explains that balance implies equal weight on both sides, which is unrealistic and unsustainable. Instead, she advocates for harmony—understanding that different seasons of life require different priorities. Sometimes work takes precedence; other times, family does. The key is ensuring that everything important gets attention, even if not equally at all times.
Perhaps most importantly, T. Renee reminds listeners of the necessity of self-care. "We put ourselves on the back burner and take care of everybody else," she observes. "Sometimes we aren't even on the to-do list." She emphasizes that prioritizing oneself isn't selfish but essential—"You cannot give anybody what you don't have." This wisdom applies to instructional designers, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to make an impact while maintaining their well-being.
For those interested in entering the field of instructional design, T. Renee offers this advice: follow your passion and bring your whole self to whatever you're doing. She suggests using AI as a career coach to explore different aspects of instructional design across industries—from K-12 and higher education to corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors. The field is vast, and finding where your specific talents and interests align is key to long-term satisfaction and success.
🔗 Website and Social Media Links:
Please visit T. Renee Smith’s website and social media links below.
Photo by Markus Winkler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/scrabble-letters-spelling-out-tech-on-a-wooden-table-19825349/
Jackie Pelegrin
Instructional Designer, Author, College Professor, and Podcast Host
Jackie, an Arizona native, leverages decades of experience as an instructional designer within both higher education and the corporate world. She holds an MBA and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, both acquired through online learning. In addition to her full-time role, Jackie serves as an adjunct instructor, teaching online courses at Grand Canyon University. During her leisure time, she delights in reading books across a range of genres, enjoying movies and TV shows, playing games, listening to uplifting music, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
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