Hello! My name is Jonathan McMichael, and welcome to my professional portfolio. Here, you’ll find highlights from my work in AI development, instructional design, and my journey in higher education. From building AI tools and leading faculty development initiatives to collaborating on innovative, student-centered learning solutions, my approach centers on designing AI that functions as an element of the learning environment itself. I create systems with clear theories of change that scaffold trust, support communities of knowledge, and align with shared learning objectives.

On this page, you’ll find:

• The prompts and tools I’ve developed to enhance course design and instructional practices.
• A list of my professional and scholarly engagements on AI in education, including presentations, panels, and writing.
• A portfolio showcasing the projects and initiatives I’ve contributed to throughout my decade in higher education.

Explore and enjoy!

What I am working on now:

AI in Higher Education

Current Role: AI Specialist – Learning Solutions, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University
I currently serve as AI Specialist for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where I co-lead the AI Academy—a faculty development initiative that provides department-specific training and collaborative project development focused on pedagogical innovation and classroom integration. I work directly with faculty across departments to design AI-enhanced learning experiences and support the implementation of AI tools in their teaching practice.

I also serve as a Faculty Mentor for the AAC&U Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and Curriculum, where I moderated a panel on Agentic AI for the most recent keynote. I also mentor university groups on their AI implementation strategies.

Developing AI-Enhanced Learning Tools

I’m currently leading the development of several AI-powered educational tools, including VibeCheck, a student learning reflection web app that embeds into an LMS. VibeCheck allows students to anonymously reflect on their learning experiences and compare their perceptions with instructor expectations. Based on research on Self-Regulated Learning triggers, the tool’s goal is to create a feedback loop that supports instructional alignment and iterative curricular design.

Enhancing Course Design with AI
I continue to refine and expand the Learning Design Suite—a collection of AI prompts and tools crafted as a toolkit for instructional designers. These tools have been adopted by learning design teams across ASU and beyond, supporting the creation of learning objectives, module sequences, assignments, rubrics, and discussion prompts grounded in evidence-based instructional design practices. Sue Huffman and I recently received the OLC Accelerate 2024 Innovative Learning Environments and Technologies Best-in-Track award for our presentation, “AI Design Challenge: Make Your Own Instructional Design Tool!” where we outlined our development process.

Last Updated: 1/14/26