Education Assistant

Understand the goals of public education in British Columbia and the structure and functioning of school boards. Explore the roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice of education assistants within K-12 school settings, the classroom, collaborative educational teams, and the communities they serve. Learn the foundational knowledge of the theories and principles of learning, and how to apply them to instruction and lesson planning.

Inclusive practice relies on knowledge, skills, understanding, resources and attitudes. Develop the knowledge and skills required for inclusive learning.

Explore equality and diversity in the classroom, how inclusive education fosters learning, and the role of an education assistant. Learn how to include students of all needs and abilities by assisting in the identification, development, and implementation of inclusive teaching strategies.

Build foundational knowledge of human development from conception through adolescence. Learn the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural characteristics and unique needs of children at each stage.

Learn human psychological development from conception through adolescence. Build foundational knowledge of the psychosocial, cognitive, emotional, and sociocultural characteristics of development and the needs of children and adolescents through each stage of growth.

Individual cognitive and physical differences present a wide range of challenges to both learners and those who support them. Build the skills to apply the principles of Universal Design for Learning, and build a practical toolset for creating learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of individual students.

Get hands-on training with assistive learning hardware and software technologies as they are applied to teaching, learning, and the integration of students with diverse needs. Learn to apply a process for problem solving and for the selection of appropriate tools to meet individual student needs. Build skills in integrating assistive technologies into their instructional planning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition usually appearing in the first two years of life. Learn to recognize the characteristics and manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Understand current research on best practices for supporting students with ASD in a variety of educational settings, including instructional practices, assessment, and positive behaviour supports.

Study effective instructional practices, assessment practices, positive behavior supports, and strategies and materials that enhance learning, communication, and social skills. Explore how a diagnosis of autism impacts the family network and how to effectively work with these families.

Study the principles of ‘positive behaviour support’ and its role in student learning and classroom management.

Explore your own value, belief system, and attitudes toward and in relation to the role of an education assistant in supporting students with challenging behaviours. Learn how to accurately observe and record your observations across a variety of settings. Use functional assessment practices to build your observations into behaviour support plans.

Examine the different ways we understand and communicate. Being able to speak properly is an indicator of fine motor development and serves as a window to cognitive development.

Learn a descriptive framework for analyzing language development from preschool through middle school. Explore the connection between biology, language systems, and fundamental communication stages.

Explore the development of speech and language across a spectrum of socio-cultural contexts, and in special populations including second language learners and those with disabilities and impairments.

Explore the psychological, cognitive, social, and physical differences of students with exceptionalities. Examine the unique difficulties these students face, developmental consequences of various exceptionalities, and accommodating interventions.

Learn how to identify, assess, assist, and effectively teach exceptional learners.

Learn foundational physical management and specialized healthcare skills for supporting students with disabilities. Develop safe lifting, carrying, transferring, handling, and positioning techniques, along with proper eating and feeding support. You'll also learn healthcare procedures such as toilet training, urine collection, catheterization, and effective colostomy management to confidently assist students with complex care needs.

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) demonstrate a significant array of neurocognitive impairments including deficits in intelligence, attention, processing speed, executive functions, language functions, visual-spatial abilities, memory, and academic achievement. Each student with FASD presents with an individual set of learning difficulties, disabilities, behavioral characteristics and special need issues.

Gain skills in identifying and addressing the unique needs of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in an educational context including development and implementation of learning strategies in individual educational development plans.

Explore evidence-based practices for assisting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a K-12 school-setting. Learn practical activities, demonstrations, coaching, and application exercises. The course focuses on implementing effective, individualized instructional practices within educational programs.

Learn basic workplace safety to identify, assess, and mitigate workplace hazards.

Learn basic workplace safety necessary for employment, including how to provide first aid procedures (Standard First Aid Level C), perform CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Gain interview and job search training, including online profile management, to help you stand out as you start your new career.

Build effective communication skills for the educational workplace to support clear sharing and understanding of information and direction.

Learn student-centric learning strategies and techniques that include goal setting, planning, and time management. Alongside writing and problem-solving skills, learn computer skills and the effective use of information technologies.