In The News
Praxis History
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Praxis International Institute (PII) was born out of a desire to help young people make a difference in the world using experiential education, creativity and innovation, and experimentation as a way to connect theory to the real world. |
Brent and Monica Kreuger, the owners of Global Infobrokers Inc. which is the parent of PII, believed that the success achieved by the graduates of their post secondary school, the Praxis School of Entrepreneurship, could be translated into a secondary school setting, thereby offering an alternative to traditional education.
Over the past 20 years, we have since assisted over 700 people in starting their own businesses in Alberta and Saskatchewan through experiential face to face and distance training, coaching, and mentorship. Our graduates have gone on to develop businesses that range from small home based enterprises to forestry, manufacturing, technology, service and international businesses at rates of success that are far above that of the average North American business startup.
The founders also raised 4 children, 2 of whom found traditional learning environments extremely restrictive but who excelled in environments where they could experiment, practice, come up with their own ideas and develop them. One of them set up her own business after graduating from the Praxis School of Entrepreneurship and the second is working towards his own business after working in his chosen industry for the past 3 years.
We need a variety of choices in education. Each person learns differently and requires access to an environment that challenges them and helps them to develop their potential whether it is in their own business, in higher education, or in future employment.
Brent Kreuger, also the Principal of PII, was diagnosed with dyslexia and borderline ADHD when he was an adult. The traditional system did not support his potential. Although he barely passed high school, he now has a B.A.A in Film and Photography; B.Ed.; and a Masters of Distance Education due in large part to the techniques that form the basis of our learning environment.
Among other things, the research conducted prior to establishing PII indicate that many of the core values of the founders are also some of the largest student success factors. These include:
- Strong belief in Adult Education principles.
- Students should be respected and treated as responsible learners
- Teachers are primarily facilitators of learning, not dispensers of knowledge
- Students are active learners, not just recipients of information
- Learning should be relevant and immediately applicable as much as possible. When it is more theoretical, it needs to be connected to real life applications.
- Creativity, innovation and problem solving are more important that just merely learning a string of facts. People need to know what to do with information and how to find it.
- Strong belief in original and critical thinking.
- There should be no such thing as a “learning disabled” student! There are however, individuals who learn differently and it is up to the school to create the environment for the student to learn in the way that best suits them.
- Most people learn best by “doing”, not by reading how it is done therefore assignments should be practical and project based rather than textbook/workbook based as much as possible.
- Evaluation should be constructive and progressive, not punitive and static.
- Students should be taught by those who practice what they preach ie doctors teach doctors; mechanics teach mechanics and entrepreneurs should teach entrepreneurs.
We have used these principles in our adult educational programs for 20 years and believe that they apply to younger adults as well.
History shows us that the pioneers, the creators, the innovators, and the entrepreneurs,
in other words, the people who take the road less travelled,
truly can make a difference in the world!
It is this desire to foster brilliant, creative, energetic minds
that led us to establish Praxis International Institute.