Educational Assistant

 

Think back to when you were in elementary and secondary school. What do you remember most about the teachers you liked best? Chances are, these teachers were empathetic, had a good sense of humour, were kind, and challenged you to fulfill your potential. They took an interest in you. Educational assistants also play a vital role in today's classroom, and these same skills and qualities will help you make a difference in a child's life.

 

Program Highlights

You will spend the first semester learning more about yourself (self-knowledge is important when working with others), about other people, and about their communities. Computers are an important part of your work in the classroom or institutional setting, and you'll become competent in their use, to support your college and career goals. You will also have a chance to learn a whole new language - American Sign Language. In the second and third semesters, the roles of teacher and educational assistant will be explored and more clearly defined. You'll learn how to manage behaviour, modify educational programming, support exceptional children, and assist with curriculum planning. Of course, a lot of this training is experiential, in various educational settings in the community. During third semester, you will spend three days a week in class at Fleming and two days a week in a classrom in an area school. The final part of the program is an intensive, semester-long, practical learning experience in an educational setting or agency.

 

Why Choose Fleming?

In the 20 years the Educational Assistant program has been offering training, area school boards have said this is the diploma program they want their Educational Assistants to have. In short, the Fleming program has a reputation for excellence, and well-rounded graduates.

 

Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative

Fleming College's Aboriginal Emphasis Initative is an inclusive approach to providing more understanding of Aboriginal peoples, communities and nations. You will have an opportunity to take courses designed from an Aboriginal perspective with emphasis on Aboriginal peoples, history, spirituality and culture. See the Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative  page for courses available in this program.

 

Work Experience

You will refine your skills as a competent, caring educational assistant during the 95 days of placement which take place during second year. You may choose to do your final practice in any community in Ontario that you wish. You will be required to submit a current police records check, which is available from your local police department upon payment of a fee.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

• a love of children, and concern for their healthy physical, intellectual, and social emotional development
• strong oral and written communications skills
• the ability to work as part of a team
• flexibility
• cultural and "ability" sensitivity
• excellent interpersonal skills
• excellent problem solving skills
• empathy and creativity
• basic computer skills

Any experience working with children or youth, such as in a summer camp or day care, or a peer tutoring program is an asset.

 

Career Opportunities

The main employer of educational assistants is the school system, but there are also opportunities in other institutional settings offering education as part of the programming. Some of our graduates find employment as a result of their placement in their final semester and may even be offered a job prior to graduation. Educational Assistants might begin their careers working on a supply list replacing Educational Assistants who are absent. A number of Educational Assistants like the flexibility and variety that this provides, and continue with this type of employment even when offered more long-term work.

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

 OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12)

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted. 

Mature Students 

If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

*Students starting in January are required to attend classes over the summer semester.

 

Selection Process

 

Related Programs

Considering a range of caring, people-focused professions? You may want to check out the Early Childhood Education and Recreation and Leisure Services programs, which offer a different opportunity to work with children and youth. If you are a graduate of the Loyalist College Educational Certificate program, through a co-operative agreement between Loyalist and Fleming College, you can complete the Fleming Educational Assistant diploma at the Loyalist Bancroft Campus. You will be given credit towards selected courses. For details, refer to: www.loyalistcbancroft.on.ca and select Educational Assistant.

 

Additional Costs

Students should plan to spend approximately $700 per year for books and supplies.

 

University Transfer Agreements

• Athabasca University
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Child Development I	45.00
Communications for Community Development & Health	45.00
Introduction to Psychology	45.00
Introductory Computing	45.00
Role of the Assistant	45.00
General Education Elective
Semester 2
Behaviour Management Part I	45.00
Field Preparation I	30.00
Introduction to Exceptionalities	45.00
Language Arts Curriculum	45.00
Math Curriculum for the Elementary School	45.00
Social Psychology	45.00
General Education Elective
Semester 3
Behaviour Management Part II	45.00
Communicating at Work	45.00
Educational Programming for Children with Special Needs	45.00
Field Preparation II	30.00
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention	15.00
Physical Exceptionalities	45.00
Semester 4
Field Practice and Evaluation	525.00

Semester 1

Child Development I

Course Number: EDUC008

This course will provide the student with an understanding of the normal patterns of growth and development from infancy through adolescence. A topical approach will be followed.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Communications for Community Development & Health

Course Number: COMM079

Communications for CD&H, a mandatory Communications course, focuses on improving reading and writing skills through a number of assignments related to the helping professions. Students will demonstrate skills in summary and essay writing as well as research techniques, including appropriate documentation of sources. The principles of style, structure, content, and mechanics constitute the overall framework of the course.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introduction to Psychology

Course Number: SOCI036

This course offers a systematic approach to exploring human behaviour. The concepts and empirical findings are examined using a variety of theoretical approaches. Major topics include perception, motivation, learning, memory, intelligence, and personality.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introductory Computing

Course Number: COMP345

Working in the Windows XP environment, this computer course introduces the student to computer basics (computer terminology, e-mail, Internet, file management) and the application and use of word processing, spreadsheet, and database software. Through the extensive use of hands-on activities, students will gain sufficient knowledge and experience to make productive use of computers as a tool in both college and workplace environments.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Role of the Assistant

Course Number: EDUC020

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.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 2

Behaviour Management Part I

Course Number: COUN050

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.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Field Preparation I

Course Number: FLPL063

The two main goals of this course are to provide the students with an initial exposure to the field in their program speciality area and to prepare them to plan and negotiate future field practice experiences with a school or agency related to their field.

Units: 30.00
Hours: 30.00

Introduction to Exceptionalities

Course Number: EDUC014

This course will introduce students to the major areas of exceptionality as they are found in children and adults. Knowledge and skills related to individual program planning will also be included.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Language Arts Curriculum

Course Number: EDUC016

This course provides the opportunity for students to study the process by which children acquire language in all its forms.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Math Curriculum for the Elementary School

Course Number: MATH010

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.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Social Psychology

Course Number: SOCI059

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.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 3

Behaviour Management Part II

Course Number: COUN051

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Communicating at Work

Course Number: COMM002

This course will enable you to continue to improve your general communication skills to meet the learning outcomes demanded by the assignments in this course, as well as the expectations of other subjects and eventual career employment. This course emphasizes concepts of critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they apply to processes fundamental to effective communication. You will continue to reinforce speaking, writing, reading, and listening techniques common to the expectations demanded by the work place of your career choice by applying, at a more sophisticated level, principles of style, structure, mechanics and techniques (for orals).

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Educational Programming for Children with Special Needs

Course Number: EDUC041

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.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Field Preparation II

Course Number: FLPL067

This course is the in-class portion of the student's first field placement.

Units: 30.00
Hours: 30.00

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Course Number: COUN030

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.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Physical Exceptionalities

Course Number: EDUC019

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.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 4

Field Practice and Evaluation

Course Number: FLPL054

Normally, students will have completed all other courses in this program before beginning this course. They must have the written permission of the program co-ordinator to enroll in this course if they have not completed all other courses.

Units: 525.00
Hours: 525.00