Courses
Semester 2
- Communicating at Work for the Helping Professions COMM0146
Units/ Hours: 45
Successful communicators use knowledge, skills and strategies to create effective messages for a range of audiences and contexts. This course emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving to meet communication challenges in today's workplace. Students will refine workplace writing, communication skills and presentation techniques through a variety of assignments, assessments and hands-on practice.
- Educational Programming for Children with Special Needs EDUC0041
Units/ Hours: 45
This course will provide the opportunity for the student to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to effectively meet the needs of children and adults who are intellectually different, including the developmentally and learning disabled.
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention COUN0030
Units/ Hours: 15
Crisis intervention is a small segment of time in which staff members must intervene with another person to address behaviour that may escalate into disruptive or even violent incidents. This course is designed to give educational assistants the skills needed to best provide for the care, welfare, safety and security of all people involved in these situations.
- Physical Exceptionalities EDUC0019
Units/ Hours: 45
This course studies the educational implications that may accompany physical disabilities resulting from a variety of disorders such as neurological defects, orthopaedic conditions, birth defects, infection or disease. The student will acquire knowledge of methods, materials and equipment that will assist in meeting the pupils' special needs at school.
Pre-Requisites
- Role of the Assistant EDUC0020
Units/ Hours: 45
In this course, students will gain an understanding of the role distinction between teachers and educational assistants. Topics include the philosophy and structure of education, child abuse policies, classification of tasks, responsibilities, courtesies, and confidentiality. Students will develop practical skills in record keeping and the use of audiovisual materials and resources.
- Theoretical Applications of Behaviour Management COUN0051
Units/ Hours: 45
The aim of this course is to provide learners with concrete skills that will help them manage challenging behaviours in the classroom. By way of class discussions and assignments, learners will be able to increase their knowledge of theories and strategies for effective student behaviour management and to integrate theory (from previous and present courses) with practice.
Semester 3
- Behaviour Management COUN0050
Units/ Hours: 45
In this course, students will gain an understanding of behaviour analysis as a methodology to effectively identify challenging and problem behaviour in children and implement strategies to assist in changing the identified behaviour, in a variety of settings. Topics include data collection techniques, functional behaviour assessment, positive and negative reinforcement and cognitive behaviour modifications.
- Field Practice FLPL0047
Units/ Hours: 196
Two days a week, over a 15 week semester, students in the Educational Assistant Program work directly with students with special needs under the direction of the classroom teacher. Students use this opportunity to develop the skills they are acquiring concurrently in college classes.
Co-Requisites
- Math Curriculum for the Elementary School MATH0010
Units/ Hours: 45
This course will introduce students to the Ontario Elementary School Curriculum for mathematics. A brief refresher will be given to create competency in the five strands of mathematics as followed by schools in the province and become fluent with the necessary vocabulary. Students will understand the use of manipulatives and learn to integrate their use into the mathematics program. Students will develop and share instructional materials and learn how to modify programming in a classroom to accommodate the needs of the exceptional child. Students will also develop competency in using a variety of assessment tools.
- Social Psychology SOCI0059
Units/ Hours: 45
This course is designed to assist students' personal development and understanding of social relationships in a culturally diverse world. The emphasis is on the development of social and interpersonal skills to foster effective work teams and personal relationships.