Continuous Learning Research Coalition
University of Memphis/FedEx Express

The Continuous Learning Research Coalition (CLRC) is a cross-disciplinary collaboration between The University of Memphis administrators, faculty, and graduate students of the Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) graduate program, and members of the Center for Continuous Learning at FedEx Express.

Real-World Problem Solving
This real-world, problem solving venture explores the role of continuous learning in corporations and can assist FedEx Express in establishing corporate strategies to enhance impacts of learning.

Benefits to University of Memphis
This cross-disciplinary collaboration also benefits The University of Memphis students by providing practical learning experiences, presentation and publication opportunities, as well as the establishment of a research alliance based on the scientist-practitioner model.

Benefits to Organizations
Continuous learning in corporate settings is of high importance due to its association with a variety of organizational benefits such as: improved performance, commitment, retention, involvement and satisfaction.

University of Memphis will also provide hiring organizations with better-prepared graduate students as they engage in practical problem solving as a significant part of their practicum course works.

Grant Funding
The CLRC Grant is funded by the FedEx Institute for Technology.

Principle Investigator: Dr. Deborah Lowther
Co-Principle Investigators: Dr. Richard Irwin and Dr. Trey Martindale

Research Studies
Two IDT professors and eight IDT graduate students involved with research projects for the CLRC have been invited to present at the international convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, October 2012: Dr. Deborah Lowther, Dr. Trey Martindale, Laura Alderson, Dorian Brown, Dorothy Hale, Smita Jain, Kris King, Mary McCraw, Joe Sweeney, and Julie Zammit.

In addition, four IDT graduate students are completing practicums with FedEx Express: Laura Alderson, Dorothy Hale, Joe Sweeney, and Julie Zammit. 

White Papers

:: Brown, D. & Martindale, T. A Review of Intercultural Training in the Workplace

:: Jain, S. & Martindale, T. Facilitating continuous learning: A review of research and practice on individual learning capabilities and organizational learning environments

:: McCraw, M. & Martindale, T. Instructing Multi-generational Students

:: Sweeney, J. & Martindale, T. Increasing Employee Participation in Voluntary Training: Issues and Solutions

:: Zammit, J., Lowther, D. & Martindale, T. Social Media Networks in the Workplace