AI-powered authoring technology is transforming how craft apprenticeships are designed, delivered, and assessed. By automating the creation and management of course materials, this technology reduces workload for subject matter experts (SMEs) and enables more flexible, blended learning approaches.

As the demand for hands-on skills grows, learners are increasingly drawn to ‘earn as you learn’ programs in fields like plumbing, electrical work, and other trades. These apprenticeships allow participants to gain real-world experience while progressing toward recognized qualifications, removing traditional financial and access barriers to education.

However, managing these programs can be challenging. Each course often includes multiple phases, each requiring assessments. SMEs face a heavy burden: authoring questions, creating distractors, updating content for compliance, and reviewing material can be time-consuming and repetitive, making it difficult to scale programs efficiently.

AI-powered authoring tools provide a solution. Using techniques such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), these tools can securely process course materials to generate high-quality, expert-level questions. They allow customization of question complexity using frameworks like Bloom’s taxonomy, while bulk generation features make producing large volumes of non-overlapping questions fast and efficient.

This approach allows SMEs to focus on reviewing and refining content rather than producing it from scratch, freeing up time and resources. Combined with blended delivery models that mix paper-based and digital learning, AI-driven authoring supports more agile, learner-focused programs that adapt to the needs of both apprentices and educators.

By embracing AI in apprenticeship design, organizations can modernize training, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance the learning experience—helping to prepare learners for the skills of tomorrow today.