Association for Talent Development International Conference & Expo – Salt Lake City, Utah

Fielding Graduate University’s Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Alma Boutin-Martinez Ph.D., provided a closing keynote presentation with Laurie E. Korte Ph.D., and Anthony Valdez MAEd from Learning Pool, on Fielding’s Master’s in Organization Development and Leadership program (MA-OD&L) on September 1st at the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Conference in Salt Lake City.

The following is an interview with Associate Provost Boutin-Martinez about the event.

What can you tell us about the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Conference?

Associate Provost Boutin-Martinez Ph.D., provided a closing keynote presentation with Laurie E. Korte Ph.D., and Anthony Valdez MAEd from Learning Pool.

Over 13,000 professionals from 80+ countries attended ATD’s annual conference to learn about trends, explore new tools, and share ideas with peers. The ATD has hosted conferences for nearly 80 years to educate and inspire professionals in the talent development field, and is the largest EXPO for training and development practitioners. At this conference, there were education sessions focusing on higher education, healthcare, leadership, technology, and government.

What were some of the highlights from the ATD conference?

On September 1st, 2021, I provided a closing keynote presentation with Dr. Laurie E. Korte and Anthony Valdez, from Learning Pool, on Fielding’s new Master’s program in Organization Development and Leadership (MA-OD&L).

I enjoyed the opportunity to shine a light on Fielding’s commitment to innovation and high-quality graduate education, using the Organization Development and Leadership program as a case study. Since 1974, Fielding Graduate University has been strategic and progressive in its approach to graduate education, delivering an adult-centered, rigorous curriculum and a supportive learning model. It was exciting to present a case study that showcased Fielding’s use of cutting-edge technology to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment.

On a personal and professional note, due to the pandemic, it has been a couple of years since I attended an in-person conference, so it was also wonderful to finally meet with the Learning Pool team in person, (though safely, with our masks on).  Also, it was exciting to network with attendees from all over the world!

Describe your case study presentation. 

In Fielding’s MA-OD&L program, we used Learning Pool’s Stream Learning Suite to create a robust digital learning environment and customized dashboards, which allowed us to monitor student engagement. Specifically, Fielding was interested in obtaining reports on the quality and depth of course interactions between learners and the program’s subject matter experts. We were also interested in the formal grading elements by which learners could be assessed. In addition, we wanted to try out mechanisms by which some interactions could potentially be automated, with the aim of drawing learners back into the community and encouraging their engagement for the duration of the program.

The case study presentation explored how the MA-OD&L program used multiple tools, such as the Learning Experience Platform (LXP), Learning Management System (LMS), Learning Locker, campaign deployment, and authoring products. Additionally, the Learning Pool team provided valuable instructional design support and learner-centered training on learning analytics and site administration.

What makes the Learning Pool’s Stream suite an innovative Learning Experience Platform (LXP)?

Associate Provost Boutin-Martinez Ph.D., at the event.

Learning Pool’s Learning Experience Platform, Stream, offers robust functionality with its modern, user-friendly interface and insightful analytics. It is designed to boost engagement. Learning Pool has brought together a suite of products that allows Fielding to offer a high quality learning experience that is personal, engaging, and measurable.

How can I learn more about Fielding’s Master’s in Organization Development and Leadership program (MA-OD&L)?

The OD&L is a one-year program designed for working professionals looking to take their careers to the next level and make a difference in their organization, community, and society. It offers the flexibility of an online course, as well as a community of scholar-practitioners to support the learning process.