OXFORD LEARNING OFFERS STUDENTS OF ALL AGES A HELPING HAND

“The Oxford Learning Centre Airport Rd in North Bay.”

is located at 343

Oxford Learning offers students of all ages a helping hand

In the late 1980’s a group of cognitive scientists and educators gathered in a tiny office in London, Ontario and developed a new method of teaching, testing and tutoring.

It was built on, the then, emerging, science

of cognitive based learning - how the mind learns - and became the proprietary Oxford Learning Interactive Coaching that embedded the science of cognition into the scope and sequence of the material.

One location turned into many and currently there are 120 Oxford Learning locations in Canada and 35 in the US and internationally,

under the brand Grade Power Learning.

Danielle Trudeau, director of the North Bay learning centre, began operating the local

location when just twelve locations existed in Canada. She had studied cognitive psychology, in post-secondary years, worked in testing and assessment settings part-time, and had always maintained an interest in entrepreneurship. She had learned about the innovative work of Oxford Learning while in university, and then as a young mother, she had noticed a shift in how parents were beginning to supplement their children’s’ education and believed that North Bay might benefit from a program quite beyond what was currently being offered in after-school programming.

She notes that today that shift, continues to evolve, and supplemental support is more sought after than ever. New parents are focused on ensuring that not only are their children provided ‘the stuff’ of curriculum, but they also want their children’s individual natures taken into consideration, so they can learn how to learn, in a way that is best for them

as individuals.

“Cognitive learning can be defined as learning in a way that uses metacognition- that is ‘thinking about thinking” and understanding

how the thought processes affect the learning,” the director explained. “It requires the learner to go beyond memorizing the facts, but rather purposefully make connections and decisions along the way as to how to effect stronger understanding for themselves, via learning to question, find reason and understanding and apply strategies that will ensure true and longterm learning and some knowledge about the subject or concept.”

Danielle’s daughter Paige, who spent much time in the centre after school from age 8, is also a franchisee, the Education Director, and the ‘face’ of Oxford Learning North Bay. Paige completed her Business Degree, with a minor in

Psychology, and is also a seasoned teacher of maths and sciences.

This year Paige, as an individual franchisee, was named one of three top franchisees in Canada by the Canadian Franchise association. This award is for displaying a star quality within their business but also their community. - as a leader and a contributor to the community.

“It wasn’t awarded just for Oxford Centres, but across all franchise brands in the country,” said Danielle.“so, it’s exceptional within the general franchisee community. It wasn’t for the location,

but for her. Oxford Learning Inc. has also won Gold for brick and mortar franchises several times across all brands in the country.”

Regardless of the school subject, Oxford Learning programs underscore the importance of active thinking and Danielle says without this, true understanding is rarely achieved. So, with an emphasis on cognitive development, students develop their meta-cognition, so that even if it is a brand-new topic, they can use learning skills to gain comprehension. It’s an approach to learning that helps every student, in every subject

Oxford’s program provides students with these strategies for learning, along with whatever subject they are studying with the program such as math, reading, French, study skills to name a few, so they can transfer these skills to all learning.

Students, of all ages and grades, who are

looking for school support for a short duration, are welcome in the program, where math, science French, or essay writing support is a common request.

With the recent octomester system, where the streams are delivered at rapid speed, even strong students find that keeping up with functions or calculus is a challenge and the learning program works with them closely during this time.

The learning centre currently offers its original in-centre instruction, as well as the online programs which are popular in North Bay for students who are stretched timewise or if they are away or live outside of the city in Sudbury, Sault Ste Marie, Kapuskasing or Cochrane.

Danielle explained that some students with significant learning difficulties who are on the autism spectrum or with severe dyslexia and who had been told they would never read or

write have benefited from the program.

“These students learned to read and write with us and recently one has graduated from an

ECE program and is fully employed and reads and writes at an adult level,” said Danielle.“we have also helped high school athletes who wouldn’t otherwise get into American university programs on scholarships. By attending, their skills in the areas of need were developed to a level we could then work with them on SAT preparation, and they got scholarships to hockey, baseball, and golf programs in the

states.”

“A significant portion of our students are elementary kids who are challenged with general reading and writing issues,” said Danielle.“we catch them up.”

Paige Shemilt is the franchisee and the Education Director of the Oxford Learning Centre in North Bay. She has also been designated by the Canadian Franchise Association as one of the top three franchisees in Canada. The award of excellence identifies individual franchisees amid all franchise brands across the country, who have excelled in business performance, client service and who give of themselves to their communities in

leadership and volunteer roles.