What makes TCML Unique?
Many of the tutouring/learning centres focus on helping children to improve their reading, writing, mathematical skills, etc. in individual or small groups. However, if children are having difficulties with the school curriculum in general, it is because there are difficulties with their thinking and learning skills. Therefore, our focus is not on content, but on process: the application of rules, principles and strategies to a variety of tasks. For example, our students learn to define problems, search for logical evidence, form and test hypotheses, ensure that their answers are understood by others, etc. These thinking skills are then transferred to the content areas of learning.
Most of the publicly funded and privately run centres and clinics in Toronto tend to rely upon the use of psycho-educational assessments. These assessments include IQ and achievement tests that are based on the child’s current level of functioning. This type of assessment is useful for diagnostic purposes, yet it does not pinpoint where the underlying difficulties are in the child’s thinking processes. The dynamic assessment approach is utilized to discover exactly which cognitive functions are underdeveloped, and what can be done to enhance them. Therefore we don’t test existing skills and knowledge, but how the child learns and improves his/her performance during an assessment. We concentrate on what the child can learn, rather than what the child already knows.
What is Mediated Learning?
Mediated Learning occurs when a committed adult (a mediator) places him or herself between the individual and the surrounding world, and helps to guide the thought process. As individuals are taught thinking processes and strategies, they learn how to benefit from the learning opportunities offered at school and in daily life. As a result, they become active, effective, independent learners. Mediated Learning is at the heart of our programs.
Who is Prof. Feuerstein?
Prof. Reuven Feuerstein is a world renowned psychologist and researcher in the field of child development. His methods for teaching thinking skills have been successfully applied worldwide and the results continue to demonstrate that intelligence is not fixed, and that cognitive functioning can be enhanced. For more information on Prof. Feuerstein, please visit: www. iriinc.us/abou_home.htm.
Our Director
Claire Merbaum is the founder and Director of The Centre for Mediated Learning. She has a Master of Arts degree in School and Child-Clinical Psychology from OISE/UofT. Following extensive training under the guidance of Prof. Feuerstein in Jerusalem, Claire became a certified teacher-trainer of Instrumental Enrichment (IE) and an affiliate of the Feuerstein Institute in Jerusalem.
Our Cognitive Education Specialists
Our Cognitive Education Specialists are a motivated group of dedicated teachers and educational assistants who have all been trained in the theory and techniques of Mediated Learning.