In this dynamic presentation on the evolving landscape of Learning & Development, Babs Bengston dives into the shifts reshaping how organizations approach professional development and capability-building. She shares the latest trends in the L&D field, what has withstood the test of time, and what needs to evolve (or be eliminated). Bengston explores how AI is revolutionizing instructional design, while also transforming consumption by learners. Yet amid the innovation, she emphasizes that foundational strategies like coaching, spaced repetition, and experiential learning remain powerfully effective. Bengston also challenges the audience to critically examine outdated methods that often fail to engage or deliver lasting impact. Her call to action: embrace the future, but do so with discernment and a learner-first mindset.

Learning Objectives

1. List at least two trends that are affecting the field of Learning & Development

2. Describe how AI is influencing both the instructional design and the consumption of learning

3. Recall at least two learning strategies and why they are effective

4. Explain why some common approaches to learning should be carefully reviewed and perhaps no longer used.

Speaker: Babs Bengston, Ph.D.

 Speaker Bio: 

In 2024, Babs Bengtson started her own training and professional development consulting company, 2B Your Best, with the goal of helping leaders, individuals and teams be their best version of themselves. Bengtson is a certified trainer in Lead in 30, MBTI, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability and Advanced Facilitation. She is a strengths coach and obtained a national certification as a Certified Professional in Learning and Development. During her 35+ years in Learning & Development, Bengtson has won numerous national awards for her instructional design and program development work and has international program development experience.

Bengtson has created several leadership programs: Aspiring Leaders, Supervisors Institute, Building Stronger Leaders, Lessons in Leadership, Complex Leadership, and the Joy of Leadership. She is skilled in assisting leaders develop at all levels of the organization, and especially enjoys working with emerging or aspiring leaders.

Bengtson’s Masters in Adult Education and Ph.D. in Workforce Education are both from Penn State University. She earned her undergraduate degree from Geneva College. When not designing instruction, Babs likes to cook, bake, read, garden and is learning to sew. Babs walks four miles every morning, mostly so she can eat more cookies.

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Meeting Agenda:

11:30am - Doors open

11:40am - Chapter Announcements

11:50am - Sponsor Announcements

12:00pm - Speaker Presentation 

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Thank you to our sponsor!