Paul Welty, PhD AI, WORK, AND STAYING HUMAN

Instructional design models and theories are in the spotlight today as more organizations embrace learning experience design for education and training needs.

Instructional design models and theories are in the spotlight today as more organizations embrace learning experience design for education and training needs.
Explore essential instructional design models and theories that enhance learning experiences in education and training for modern organizations.

This article discusses the importance of utilizing instructional design models and theories in modern education. It explores why these models, some of which date back to World War II, remain relevant and significant today. The article also provides an overview of several influential instructional design models and theories, as well as an expanded list for further reference. It concludes with a section answering frequently asked questions about instructional design models. Overall, the article highlights the value of these models in creating effective learning experiences.

https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/instructional-design-models/


Featured writing

Why customer tools are organized wrong

This article reveals a fundamental flaw in how customer support tools are designed—organizing by interaction type instead of by customer—and explains why this fragmentation wastes time and obscures the full picture you need to help users effectively.

Infrastructure shapes thought

The tools you build determine what kinds of thinking become possible. On infrastructure, friction, and building deliberately for thought rather than just throughput.

Server-Side Dashboard Architecture: Why Moving Data Fetching Off the Browser Changes Everything

How choosing server-side rendering solved security, CORS, and credential management problems I didn't know I had.

Books

The Work of Being (in progress)

A book on AI, judgment, and staying human at work.

The Practice of Work (in progress)

Practical essays on how work actually gets done.

Recent writing

We always panic about new tools (and we're always wrong)

Every time a new tool emerges for making or manipulating symbols, we panic. The pattern is so consistent it's almost embarrassing. Here's what happened each time.

Dev reflection - February 03, 2026

I've been thinking about constraints today. Not the kind that block you—the kind that clarify. There's a difference, and most people miss it.

When execution becomes cheap, ideas become expensive

This article reveals a fundamental shift in how organizations operate: as AI makes execution nearly instantaneous, the bottleneck has moved from implementation to decision-making. Understanding this transition is critical for anyone leading teams or making strategic choices in an AI-enabled world.

Notes and related thinking

Remote work is here to stay despite in-person mandates, this economist says

Explore why remote work persists despite RTO mandates, and how hybrid models can enhance equity and collaboration in the evolving workplace.

Eliminating degree requirements for corporate jobs.

Walmart eliminates degree requirements for corporate jobs, prioritizing skills and experience to enhance career opportunities and broaden talent pools.

AI drives innovation, profits, and efficiency.

Unlock innovation and profits with AI by empowering employees and prioritizing human-centered decision-making for a more efficient workplace.