'Crossroads of Learning Announces "Learning Center Edition"
Tutor Training Program

(Los Angeles, CA – October 24, 2007)   Crossroads of Learning, a resource provider for one-on-one educators and academic coaches, has just released the new online Learning Center Edition of their "Tutoring Foundations" training program.  The program offers comprehensive research-based training for professional, paraprofessional and peer tutors, and is customized specifically for commercial and academic learning centers as well as supplemental educational services (SES) suppliers. The curriculum was developed with, and approved by Fielding Graduate University, who also grants CEUs for completion, and the National Tutoring Association (NTA), who accepts this completion as filling the academic requirement for Level I tutor certification. 

Crossroads of Learning President, Bob Lasiewicz, explains the purpose of this new edition.  “NCLB mandates are really pushing the tutoring industry to upgrade tutor training resources -- and quickly.  We have developed this program to help hone the skills of thousands of new tutors and mentors, many of whom will be energized with the research and additional tools for success that this course provides.”   The NCLB guidelines specifically mandate that supplemental educational services must be high quality, research-based, and designed to increase student academic achievement.  Each of these critical components is incorporated into the “Tutoring Foundations” online training courses.

This new Learning Center Edition is part of the Crossroads of Learning Affiliate Program, created so that learning centers and SES providers can partner in the NTA tutor certification process.  According to the NTA Executive Director, Sandi Ayaz, “the need for structured and ongoing professional training, certification and evaluation are key to the effectiveness of tutorial programs.”  The Learning Center Edition is offered in a three-module series, reducing training schedules, time and costs while developing critical tutoring skills for professional and peer tutors as well as those who supervise or support them. 

By providing the course online, Crossroads of Learning can accommodate the needs of tutoring administrators and learning center management from around the country who need flexible start dates and class hours for their staff, contractors and paraprofessionals.  Each participant is assigned an NTA master tutor, who supervises the learners’ progress throughout the program. This unique combination of online convenience and direct interaction with a master tutor mentor sets the "Tutoring Foundations" programs apart from any other training course. Eight affiliates have already signed up for the Learning Center program, including Simpson College and Texas Southern University on the academic side, and Brilliance Academy and One on One Learning on the commercial side.

In addition to tutor training, Crossroads of Learning provides many free resources, including a community of interest for one-to-one educators (discussions, meeting areas, blogs, file sharing, etc.), a library of helpful Internet tools, an online Journal, and special Tutoring Town Hall interactive webcasts with timely subjects and experts in the field.  For more information, please visit: http://crossroadsoflearning.com/training.htm.

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About Crossroads of Learning: 

Crossroads of Learning (www.crossroadsoflearning.com) is a division of Media InfoSystems, Inc. a provider of systems design, training, and business products and services since 1982.  In addition to the on-line “Tutoring Foundations” tutor-training program, Crossroads of Learning provides many free resources including a community of interest for one-to-one educators (discussions, meeting areas, blogs, file sharing, etc.), a library of helpful Internet tools, the Journal, and Tutoring Town Hall interactive webcasts with timely subjects and experts in the field.

About the National Tutoring Association: 

Founded in 1992, the NTA (http://www.ntatutor.org) is the oldest and largest international organization of tutoring professionals, currently representing nearly 5,000 tutors and learning center administrators, including colleges, universities, K-12 schools, community and grant supported programs, NCLB/SES and TRIO providers as well as independent tutoring centers and their staffs.  Their members include peer, paraprofessional, professional, volunteer, and private practice tutors. The NTA is also a member of the American Council of Developmental Education Associations (ACDEA).

About Fielding Graduate University: 

Fielding Graduate University (http://www.fielding.edu) has an international reputation for the highest quality accredited graduate degree and certificate programs in three schools: Psychology, Human & Organization Development and Educational Leadership & Change. Fielding is renowned for its innovative contributions to academic research, lifelong learning and social justice.  

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Contact: 

Mary Anderson-Harris, Crossroads of Learning - 818-729-9291   aharrism@pacbell.net