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LearningRx is a franchise based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The company aims to improve cognitive abilities based on the principle of neuroplasticity.

History

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2015)

The franchise was founded by Ken Gibson who started the first LearningRx in August 2002 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The first franchise had $250,000 in revenue in its initial four months. Other LearningRx franchises were opened in 2003; 27 were started that year. The company's teaching approach is based on Ken Gibson's research in visual processing and his brother Keith Gibson's work as a clinical psychologist. The two worked in their respective fields for 17 years before "adapting them for use in a commercial setting". Their research showed demonstrate that brief, deep cognitive training allowed patients to be more focused on their tasks and have better memory and analytical skills. In 1985, they organized an academic conference sharing their conclusions to doctors and teachers.

Around 2010, the National Science Foundation presented Virginia State University with a grant to do research on LearningRx. The study was completed by 2012 by Oliver W. Hill Jr., a professor of psychology at the university. In 2014, the firm opened a branch in Sherman, Texas.

Functions

Most of the company's clients are children and adolescents who have trouble with reading, focusing, and working out puzzles. They typically have poor academic performance in schools. LearningRx evaluates the clients and pairs them with an instructor for coaching. The objectives of the LearningRx program is to improve the academic performance of students through a series of cognitive exercises claimed to re-stimulate the brain and overcome learning disabilities such as dyslexia. These are done by a series of cognitive exercises claimed to strengthen brain reasoning and other learning capacities.

Their methods include testing students with (and without) learning difficulties such as reading, applying the prescribed procedures and re-testing at the end of the program to see the difference in cognitive skills as a result of the program and one-on-one training.

Reception

Amongst the negative commentaries towards LearningRx programs from the academic community has been psychology professor Douglas K. Detterman of the Case Western Reserve University. According to Detterman, the programs exercises help improve skills in tests conducted by the institution itself and not improvement on skills in general. He further stated that the studies conducted by commercial services that support their claims of benefits are poorly done.

Philip David Zelazo, a professor at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development, and advisor to a partnered organization, spoke in support of the program. Zelazo said in a 2010 interview with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, "The logic behind a program like LearningRx seems sound. In general, scientists have come to the conclusion that the brain is much more plastic and modifiable than people have previously imagined."

See also

• Cogmed
• Lumosity

References

1. ^ Wilson, Sara (2005-09-01). "Making the Grade: Franchising can help entrepreneurs make a difference in people's lives". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
2. ^ Lima, Christina (2006-11-30). "LearningRx offers help to struggling students". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
3. ^ Miranda, Maricella (2010-06-27). "New option for struggling students - Program uses drills instead of tutoring to 'train' the brain". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
4. ^ Hurley, Dan (2012-11-04). "The Brain Trainers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
5. "New Learning Center Opens In Sherman". KTEN. 2014-10-01. Archived from the original on 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
6. "Program designed to make learning easier". Daily Herald. Associated Press. 2009-02-21. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
7. "Team Awear Technologies". Awear Technologies. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-04. Retrieved 2015-06-04.

Further reading

• Hurley, Dan (2013). Smarter: The New Science of Building Brain Power. London: Penguin Books. pp. 58–64. ISBN 0698148495. Retrieved 2015-05-25.

External links

• Official website

• Brain training programs