2019 Annual Conference

Workforce Development, Continuing Education, and Professional Development

Fast Format (7 minutes)

The Jackson Laboratory promotes internal workforce development and career advancement of nearly 700 animal care employees through education in mouse biology and genetics. Successful completion of courses are required for promotional milestones within the organization. Courses are currently undergoing revision to employ best practices in adult and biology education.

I am new to teaching adults, so would love to have an audience that has experience in teaching science and/or math to a multigenerational adult audience in a professional setting. I am looking for feedback and advice for how to best proceed with my instruction.

1) Describe a model for workforce development within a non-profit organization. 2) Discuss lessons learned and patterns observed from teaching a multi-generational audience. 3) Identify best practices in biomedical workforce development.

This presentation fits the conference theme of economic empowerment. Not only are JAX employees empowered to advance their careers within the organization through education, the organization relies on educated employees to maintain a quality product and its reputation within the global biomedical community. Course instructors are currently revising course materials and methods to reflect best practices in adult and biology education. The impact of these dramatic innovations is hypothesized to increase employee learning and skill competency, but the break from traditional teaching may elicit unexpected responses from employees. The impact of these instructional revisions is currently unknown and in progress. 

I would like to be in a session that invovles presenters focused on workforce development, especially in the sciences. I imagine we experience similar trials, tribulations and triumphs. If possible, through interaction with the audience, it would be fantastic to come up with suggested best practices for this audience and biomedical workforce setting. Since I am new to the field, I do not have anyone in mind, but I am hoping there are other practitioners out there.