Evidence-Based Instructional Design for Modern Teams with Joe Stoup of RealPage
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape workplace learning, many organizations are rethinking the role of learning and development. In this episode of Learning Leader Spotlight, Joe Stoup shares a perspective that balances technological innovation with a strong commitment to human-centered learning.
Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for L&D expertise, Joe argues that the future belongs to organizations that combine thoughtful learning design, meaningful learner experiences, and a culture of care. His insights offer valuable guidance for leaders navigating rapid change while seeking to improve performance and capability development.
Joe Stoup is Director of the Learning Experience Group at RealPage. His organization is responsible for content development, content management, and content delivery, supporting customers in maximizing the value of RealPage software through learning experiences and learning technology solutions.
Joe’s background combines computer science, help desk operations, instructional design, learning systems administration, and leadership. This blend of technical and learning expertise informs his approach to customer education, organizational capability building, and the evolving relationship between AI and learning.
Bringing the Learning Lifecycle Together
One of the central themes of the discussion is the strategic advantage of unifying content development, content management, and content delivery within a single organization.
Joe explains that combining these traditionally separate functions improves communication and creates a more complete understanding of customer needs. Content teams gain direct access to insights gathered from customer interactions, while delivery teams benefit from closer alignment with instructional design and content strategy.
This integrated model has enabled RealPage to focus more deeply on customer outcomes rather than simply responding to training requests. Instead of approaching learning as a series of isolated courses, the organization can consider the entire learner’s journey, from content creation through adoption and performance support.
Joe also highlights the introduction of learning advisor roles that work directly with customers to create effective learning pathways and maximize the value of learning systems. These roles reflect a broader shift from content production toward learning consultation and business partnership.
AI as an Opportunity for Insight, Not Just Efficiency
AI is often discussed in terms of speed, automation, and content creation. While Joe acknowledges those benefits, he believes one of the greatest opportunities lies elsewhere.
He suggests that organizations should view AI interaction data as a rich source of information about learner behavior, questions, and challenges. Historically, many workplace questions were answered through informal conversations with coworkers. Increasingly, those same requests are being directed to AI systems.
By analyzing these interactions, learning teams can identify common pain points, knowledge gaps, and emerging learning objectives. This offers visibility into learner challenges at a scale that was previously difficult to achieve.
Rather than focusing exclusively on how AI can help generate learning assets faster, Joe encourages organizations to ask how AI-generated insights can improve the relevance and effectiveness of their learning strategies.
The Future Role of Instructional Design
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on concerns that AI could lead some organizations to undervalue instructional design expertise.
Joe predicts that some organizations may initially believe that subject matter experts equipped with AI tools can independently create all necessary training content. While AI can certainly accelerate content production, he argues that learning professionals contribute far more than course creation.
According to Joe, instructional designers provide the intentionality that connects learning objectives, instructional strategies, assessment methods, and business outcomes. Without that expertise, organizations risk developing large collections of disconnected learning assets that fail to support meaningful performance improvement.
He expects that learning design may experience a temporary decline in perceived importance before organizations recognize the consequences of poorly structured content ecosystems and return to more deliberate approaches.
In this view, the future of instructional design is not centered on producing materials. Instead, it is centered on ensuring that learning experiences support knowledge transfer, skill development, onboarding, productivity, and long-term performance.
Human-AI-Human: The "AI Sandwich"
One of the most memorable concepts discussed is Joe’s endorsement of what he describes as a human-AI-human approach.
Drawing on ideas shared by learning professional Debbie Richards, Joe argues that the strongest outcomes emerge when AI serves as a partner within a broader human learning process. People provide context, judgment, and intent. AI contributes speed, creativity, and support. Humans then review, refine, and apply the results.
This framework avoids two extremes: excessive dependence on AI and resistance to technological change.
Joe believes AI performs exceptionally well as a source of just-in-time support, helping learners answer immediate questions, navigate tasks, and develop ideas. However, he emphasizes that AI currently struggles to provide the contextual understanding required for complete onboarding, role development, and organizational socialization.
As a result, human learning professionals remain essential in shaping experiences that help individuals build foundational knowledge and reach productive performance levels.
Curiosity as a Core Professional Capability
When discussing leadership and talent development, Joe identifies curiosity as one of the most important skills for today’s workplace.
In an environment characterized by rapid change, curiosity helps individuals remain adaptable and open to learning. Rather than reacting defensively to new technologies or shifting business requirements, curious professionals explore possibilities, ask better questions, and expand their understanding.
Joe actively encourages this mindset within his own team. Team members are given dedicated time each week for personal development and are encouraged to pursue learning in whatever format works best for them, including podcasts, articles, videos, formal learning programs, and AI exploration.
For Joe, curiosity serves as an entry point into a broader growth mindset. It encourages inquiry, reflection, and problem solving while helping professionals remain resilient during change.
Building a Culture of Care
Perhaps the most distinctive theme throughout the conversation is Joe’s commitment to care.
Inspired by a Simon Sinek discussion about organizations built around care rather than speed and scale, Joe describes how this philosophy influences his team’s culture and customer relationships.
At RealPage, care is reflected in efforts to understand the challenges customers face, the pressures placed upon them, and the constraints affecting learners. Through tools such as empathy mapping, the team seeks to understand both organizational expectations and learner realities.
Joe believes that care builds stronger partnerships and creates environments where individuals feel supported rather than simply managed.
Internally, he credits a culture of care with fostering collaboration, innovation, and initiative. Team members freely identify gaps, develop solutions, and contribute beyond formal job descriptions because they feel trusted and valued. According to Joe, psychological safety and genuine concern for people help unlock exceptional performance.
Evidence-Based Learning Design
Another recurring theme is the importance of grounding decisions in research rather than assumptions.
Joe frequently turns to Google Scholar to stay informed about current research related to learning science. While recognizing the value of foundational theories and models, he encourages learning professionals to engage with emerging evidence and challenge long-held assumptions when new findings become available.
He also shares how AI can help practitioners interpret academic research by summarizing studies, identifying implications, and highlighting factors that influence credibility, such as sample size and research methodology.
This evidence-informed mindset extends to learning myths that continue to influence practice. Joe specifically discusses learning styles as an example of a widely accepted concept that has been repeatedly challenged by research. He advocates focusing on the most effective instructional approaches for a given learning objectives rather than attempting to design around presumed learner types.
Practical Takeaways for L&D and Business Leaders
Integrate Learning Functions Around the Learner Experience
Organizations may benefit from stronger collaboration among content development, content management, learning systems, and customer-facing learning functions. A connected ecosystem can improve responsiveness, consistency, and learner outcomes.
Leverage AI Data for Learning Insights
AI interactions can provide valuable information about questions, challenges, and performance barriers. Examining these patterns may help organizations identify emerging capability gaps and prioritize learning investments.
Protect the Strategic Value of Learning Design
As AI accelerates content creation, learning leaders can continue emphasizing the importance of learning objectives, performance outcomes, assessments, and intentional experience design.
Encourage Curiosity Through Dedicated Learning Time
Providing structured opportunities for ongoing development can help employees remain informed, adaptable, and prepared for change while reinforcing a culture of continuous learning.
Build Organizational Care Into Learning Strategy
Empathy, customer understanding, psychological safety, and support for employee growth can strengthen both learning effectiveness and business performance.
Resources or Tools Mentioned
- The Evidence-Informed Learning Design by Mirjam Neelen and Paul Kirschner
- Google Scholar
Closing Reflection
Throughout the conversation, Joe presents a vision of learning and development that embraces innovation without losing sight of human needs. While AI will continue to influence how learning is created, delivered, and supported, he argues that curiosity, evidence-based practice, thoughtful learning design, and genuine care will remain essential differentiators.
His perspective suggests that the future of L&D is not about choosing between people and technology. Instead, it is about combining the strengths of both to create learning experiences that accelerate performance while keeping learners at the center of the process.
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