AICI 401
The Studio Aletheia Design Lab
This pathway turns the ADTL and AI-integrated workflows into a studio practice. Each lesson introduces a core design move; each “.1” mastery studio critiques and refines real artifacts until they are portfolio-ready for The Aletheia Design Portfolio.
From theory and tools to a living studio practice of iterative, evidence-based learning design.
Jump to a Lesson
Select a core lesson or its mastery studio.
Lesson 1
Entering the Studio: From Teacher to Learning Designer
Learners adopt the studio mindset; seeing themselves as designers of experiences, not just deliverers of content, and map how their current practice aligns with or diverges from ADTL.
Learning Focus
- Articulate the shift from “teacher” to “learning designer” in concrete behaviors.
- Connect studio practices (critique, iteration, prototypes) to ADTL pillars.
- Identify current strengths and tensions in one’s own design practice.
Lesson Flow
- Gallery walk of sample Aletheian artifacts (slides, units, tasks, visuals).
- Guided reflection: “Where do I already work like a designer? Where do I default to habit?”
- Mini-lesson on the Studio Aletheia design cycle and its relationship to the Aletheian Learning Cycle.
Core Activities
- Complete a “Design Identity Snapshot” mapping current practices to ADTL pillars.
- Draft one design goal for the lab (e.g., “I will rebuild my unit on ___ as an ADTL-aligned campaign”).
Evidence of Progress
- Documented identity shift in a short designer statement.
- Clear, ADTL-anchored goal for what they will build in AICI 401.
This lesson meets the goal by establishing AICI 401 as a working studio where identity, theory, and practice are tightly linked.
Lesson 1.1
Mastery Studio: Design Identity Critique
Learners share design identity statements and receive structured critique to clarify their stance, strengths, and edges for growth as Aletheian designers.
Mastery Demonstration
- Present a short “I am a designer who…” statement anchored in ADTL language.
- Share one artifact that illustrates current design practice (lesson, unit, or visual).
- Explain how the artifact currently reflects or conflicts with their stated identity.
Critique & Discussion
- Peers use a protocol (e.g., “I hear your design identity most clearly when…”) to respond.
- Group surfaces patterns: common strengths, recurring tensions, shared aspirations.
Mastery Indicators
- Participant can clearly name their designer stance using ADTL pillars.
- Participant identifies at least one concrete behavior shift to pursue in the lab.
- Participant revises their designer statement to reflect critique and clarity.
Mastery arises when identity, artifacts, and ADTL language feel coherent and intentionally chosen.
Lesson 2
Framing a Design Challenge: Learners, Context, and Constraints
Learners select a concrete design challenge (unit, module, experience) and frame it with rich context: students, community, constraints, and desired shifts in learning.
Learning Focus
- Describe the learners, environment, and systemic constraints for a specific design problem.
- Connect the challenge to ADTL pillars and the Aletheian Learning Cycle.
- Translate a broad desire (“make this unit better”) into a targeted design brief.
Lesson Flow
- Short examples of well-framed vs vague design challenges.
- Guided “Design Brief” template walkthrough: Who, Where, What, Why, and ADTL anchors.
- Peer interviews to deepen understanding of students and context.
Core Activities
- Complete a Studio Aletheia Design Brief for one selected challenge.
- Highlight primary and secondary ADTL pillars the design should emphasize.
Evidence of Progress
- Fully drafted design brief with contextual details and clear success criteria.
- Named constraints that will shape design decisions (time, curriculum, tools, policies).
This lesson meets the goal by anchoring the lab work in a real, well-scoped problem worth solving.
Lesson 2.1
Mastery Studio: Design Brief Critique
Learners present design briefs, then sharpen them through critique focused on clarity, equity, and ADTL alignment before any prototyping begins.
Mastery Demonstration
- Present the design brief including context, learners, constraints, and success markers.
- Name the ADTL pillars and Aletheian Learning Cycle phases most central to the work.
- Surface assumptions they may be making about students or context.
Critique & Discussion
- Peers ask clarifying questions and challenge vague phrases.
- Group checks for equity: whose needs are centered, whose might be overlooked?
Mastery Indicators
- Participant revises the brief to remove ambiguity and bias.
- Participant defines observable evidence that the challenge has been addressed.
- Participant can articulate why this challenge matters for their learners now.
Mastery is shown when the design brief becomes a reliable compass for all future design moves.
Lesson 3
Prototyping Aletheian Artifacts
Learners sketch and draft core artifacts—tasks, visuals, assessments, AI prompts—at low fidelity, focusing on structure and experience rather than polish.
Learning Focus
- Translate the design brief into a small set of critical artifacts.
- Use ADTL and prior AICI coursework (101/201/301) to shape artifact structure.
- Leverage AI as a co-designer for options, examples, and structural variations.
Lesson Flow
- Mini-lesson on low-fidelity prototypes vs finished products.
- Quick reminder of key tools: visual hierarchy, concept mapping, AI-augmented planning.
- Studio working time: sketching, drafting, and improvising with AI where helpful.
Core Activities
- Create sketches or draft versions of at least two artifacts (e.g., anchor task, core visual, rubric outline).
- Annotate where AI contributed and where human revision will be critical.
Evidence of Progress
- Set of low-fidelity artifacts that clearly respond to the design brief.
- Notes on questions and unknowns to test in later sessions.
This lesson meets the goal by turning ideas into tangible, critique-ready prototypes.
Lesson 3.1
Mastery Studio: Prototype Critique & Redirection
Learners present prototypes for critique, then adjust focus, structure, or artifacts based on feedback before moving toward higher fidelity versions.
Mastery Demonstration
- Present 2–3 prototypes with a brief explanation of intent and ADTL connections.
- Share where AI helped and where prototypes still feel uncertain or weak.
- Identify the most critical student moves each artifact is meant to elicit.
Critique & Discussion
- Peers respond using focused prompts: “Where might learners be confused?” “Where does the design sing?”
- Facilitator pushes on alignment to the design brief and ADTL pillars.
Mastery Indicators
- Participant revises prototypes based on critique, not personal preference alone.
- Participant can describe specific student experiences the revised prototypes should create.
- Participant chooses one prototype to advance toward implementation or higher fidelity.
Mastery appears when prototypes are reshaped courageously and precisely under critique.
Lesson 4
Designing for Classroom Testing & Micro-Pilots
Learners design micro-pilots—small, low-risk tests of artifacts or sequences—to gather real student data without overhauling entire courses at once.
Learning Focus
- Identify a slice of the design that can be tested quickly (one lesson, one task, one visual).
- Plan data collection (student work, observations, quick surveys) aligned to ADTL.
- Define ethical guidelines for piloting new designs with students.
Lesson Flow
- Examples of micro-pilot structures and data collection tools.
- Mini-lesson on “what counts as evidence” in design lab work.
- Studio planning time to sketch a concrete test plan.
Core Activities
- Draft a Micro-Pilot Plan including goals, steps, and evidence to collect.
- Map how the micro-pilot fits within regular classroom constraints.
Evidence of Progress
- Completed Micro-Pilot Plan aligned with the design brief.
- Clear description of how students will experience the prototype and how they will be supported.
This lesson meets the goal by turning abstract design ideas into concrete, testable classroom moves.
Lesson 4.1
Mastery Studio: Evidence Review & Interpretation
Learners bring data from micro-pilots—student work, observations, reflections—and read them as design feedback, asking “What is this telling me about my design?”
Mastery Demonstration
- Share a small set of student artifacts or pilot notes from the micro-test.
- Describe what students did, said, or produced during the pilot.
- Identify unexpected outcomes (positive or challenging).
Critique & Discussion
- Peers ask: “What is this evidence telling you about the design?” rather than about student worth.
- Group distinguishes between design issues and implementation issues.
Mastery Indicators
- Participant can name at least two design changes based on student evidence.
- Participant resists deficit framing and instead centers design responsibility.
- Participant updates the design brief or artifacts to reflect what was learned.
Mastery is shown when student evidence becomes a mirror for the design, not a judgment of the learner.
Lesson 5
Iterating Toward a Coherent Aletheian System
Learners zoom out from single lessons or tasks to ensure that sequence, visuals, assessments, and supports form an integrated Aletheian experience rather than disconnected pieces.
Learning Focus
- Map how artifacts connect across time using the Aletheian Learning Cycle.
- Check for coherence in visuals, routines, AI-supported elements, and assessment.
- Identify where students may experience disjointed or confusing transitions.
Lesson Flow
- Create a “before and after” system map of the unit or sequence.
- Mini-lesson on designing through-lines: recurring visuals, language, and rituals.
- Studio time to adjust transitions, signals, and narrative of the learning journey.
Core Activities
- Build a one-page system diagram showing how students move through the design.
- Align AI touchpoints, visuals, and assessments to that system map.
Evidence of Progress
- Revised system map with clearer through-lines and fewer arbitrary elements.
- Notes on how the design now feels from a single learner’s perspective.
This lesson meets the goal by turning a set of artifacts into a coherent Aletheian system of learning.
Lesson 5.1
Mastery Studio: System Coherence Critique
Learners “walk through” their system from the point of view of different students, using critique to surface gaps in access, belonging, and cognitive flow.
Mastery Demonstration
- Present the system map and key artifacts as one integrated experience.
- Narrate the journey of at least two different learner profiles through the system.
- Identify moments of confusion, disengagement, or misalignment for each profile.
Critique & Discussion
- Peers respond with questions and suggestions for strengthening coherence and equity.
- Group flags where design may unintentionally privilege or disadvantage certain learners.
Mastery Indicators
- Participant adjusts system to better support multiple learner profiles.
- Participant names specific design choices that create continuity for students.
- Participant defines next micro-pilots to test remaining uncertainties.
Mastery appears when the system feels like a guided journey rather than a set of disconnected tasks.
Lesson 6
Preparing the Aletheian Studio Portfolio Piece
Learners curate their design process and products into a portfolio-ready narrative for The Aletheia Design Portfolio, showing how ADTL and AI-integrated methods shaped the work.
Learning Focus
- Identify which artifacts and evidence best tell the design story.
- Align portfolio structure with Studio Aletheia portfolio expectations.
- Document AI’s role and student evidence clearly and ethically.
Lesson Flow
- Review of portfolio guidelines and sample portfolio spreads.
- Sorting exercise: “process,” “product,” and “evidence” artifacts.
- Drafting of a portfolio narrative that threads identity, brief, prototypes, and student evidence.
Core Activities
- Assemble a preliminary portfolio spread or slide sequence for the design.
- Write captions that explicitly reference ADTL pillars and AI decisions.
Evidence of Progress
- Draft portfolio piece with clear visual and textual structure.
- Checklist noting what still needs to be collected or refined.
This lesson meets the goal by preparing a coherent, shareable record of the design lab journey.
Lesson 6.1
Mastery Studio: Portfolio Review & Studio Exit Critique
Learners present their portfolio piece in a final studio critique, receiving feedback and naming the next wave of design questions their work has surfaced.
Mastery Demonstration
- Present the portfolio artifact (or near-final draft) to peers.
- Narrate the design journey: identity, brief, prototypes, pilots, evidence, iterations.
- Explain how the piece embodies The Aletheian Design Theory of Learning.
Critique & Discussion
- Peers respond with strengths, questions, and ideas for future evolution.
- Group surfaces cross-cutting themes emerging from all portfolio pieces.
Mastery Indicators
- Participant refines the portfolio piece to a shareable, polished state.
- Participant articulates at least two new design questions or future projects.
- Participant reflects on how AICI 401 has shifted their long-term design practice.
Final mastery is shown when the portfolio piece tells a clear, honest studio story,
and the designer can see their work as one chapter in an ongoing Aletheian practice.