UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The first product of an innovative emerging research partnership between the Penn State College of Education and the Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network (LTEN), recently named the LTEN-Penn State Learning Agility Graduate Fellowship, has been published by JMIR Medical Education where the work can be accessed by training professionals around the globe.
The article, titled "Current and Future Trends in Life Sciences Training: Questionnaire Study," took an in-depth look at the current state of technology as an enabler of education and training in the field; described perceptions of cost-effectiveness; and interviewed experts to investigate how technology is likely to positively impact professional learning and business outcomes in the future. Primary contributors to this work were Nicole Wang, the LTEN-Penn State graduate research fellow; Professor Emeritus Kyle Peck; and LTEN longstanding board member William Magagna.
"We are pleased with this first product and hope to demonstrate the power of this partnership between a leading professional association and a leading university," said Peck.
"It was a great honor to collaborate with LTEN on this groundbreaking research study," Wang said. "I spoke to several thought leaders and pioneers in the field, and really enjoyed summarizing their thinking to share with other professionals. We began by looking through the existing literature and found very little of relevance to our field. We are happy to make this initial contribution on behalf of the partnership."
Magagna said the publication was the culmination of more than two years of effort and the first step of the partnership's vision to deliver resources to LTEN members.
"Now more than ever, due to the current COVID-19 crisis, learning agility is front and center in the minds of learning practitioners throughout the life sciences as we look for ways to evolve our strategies and solutions," he said. "I am very excited for the potential this learning agility fellowship will contribute in the coming years and the value it will bring to LTEN members and larger life sciences learning community."
The LTEN-Penn State Learning Agility Graduate Fellowship advocates for the use of current research in cognitive science and efforts to advance practice in professional learning, by adding to the literature base and by engaging professionals in dialog related to the potential of emerging technologies and the complexities of leading the organizational change that will be required for implementation.
LTEN is the only global 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization specializing in meeting the needs of life sciences learning professionals. LTEN shares the knowledge of industry leaders, provides insight into new technologies, offers innovative solutions and communities of practice that grow careers and organizational capabilities. Founded in 1971, LTEN has grown to more than 2,100 individual members who work in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and diagnostic companies, and industry partners who support the life sciences training departments.