Hosting a workshop day with 35 adult apprentices on the Digital Learning Designer programme always presents challenges due to varying levels of expertise. With two facilitators in the room, we wanted to provide additional support when team members were unsure of core concepts or subject matter. I went laptop-free for the session to leverage social interaction, but anticipated that the different skill levels would generate many questions
The idea was born from developing a large range of GPTs for my own development processes and using Microsoft Copilot as a learning assistant during an online course.
I realised that a GPT could serve as a knowledge base containing all the key session information. In face-to-face sessions, ideas, suggestions, or important points can sometimes be missed.
This tool was developed so learners could ask for explanations, seek clarification, and dive deeper into topics when their team didn't have answers or the facilitator wasn't available.
The tool received very positive feedback from learners in the groups for supporting them during sessions. They thought it was a novel and beneficial tool to work alongside during the session that coached them along the way.
I was able to gather data on the audience's reaction post-learning, which was that it was a favourable tool that helped with learning. Overall, this tool opened my eyes to the ways facilitators can use mobile phones and custom GPTs to support learning in large groups in the moment.