If you are excited to support students in the K-12 education system who have a variety of academic, social, and emotional learning challenges, this might be the career for you.
Program Overview
The Education Assistant (EA) program at College of the Rockies is a 10-month program that prepares students for a career in supporting students with diverse needs in K-12 classrooms.
The EA program can be done fully online or you may choose to take a selection of courses in a traditional classroom setting. Online courses have been designed to incorporate a high degree of discussion and interaction between students, and instructors are actively involved in guiding learning.
Thirty new full-time students (online or on-campus) are accepted each year. Students begin their studies in September, and complete them by the end of the following June.
Part-time students (online or on-campus) begin in September of each year and have up to three years to complete the program's course work and practica. The number of part time students accepted depends on the seats available in each course.
View: Education Assistant Planning Guide
This 10-month program can be completed in a traditional classroom or completely online. Online courses include a high degree of discussion and interaction between students and instructors are actively involved in guiding learning.
You will be exposed to a variety of learning activities including:
In addition to your coursework, you will have the opportunity to participate in supervised, hands-on practice in public or private K-12 classrooms.
Course Descriptions
Inclusive Interpersonal Communications enables the student to develop interpersonal communication skills to enhance their professional and personal relationships. We also expect students to clearly evaluate their own values, beliefs, and attitudes that influence their interpersonal communication.
This course is designed to help students learning to become human service workers, education assistants, early childhood educators, and aboriginal education support workers enhance their skills in observing and recording human development and behaviour from birth through adulthood. A variety of observing and recording techniques will be explored in the course.
This course focuses on the systems, structures and roles within the K-12 education system. Students explore the evolution of the education system in British Columbia, levels within that system, alternate forms of education, and the roles and resources related to learners with special needs.
This course provides students with an introduction to augmentative and alternative communication. Characteristics of various strategies related to the needs of the users are explored. Students also look at a variety of ethical and technological issues that emerge when supporting children who use alternative and augmentative forms of communication in the K-12 classrooms.
In this course, learners will develop a global understanding of healthcare in the K-12 school system, and the roles and responsibilities of an Education Assistant within it. The course looks at current healthy schools initiatives in the province of British Columbia, how to support the healthcare of students with diverse needs, and strategies for managing personal health and wellness as Education Assistants.
The content of this course is specific to developing the skills, knowledge, and values of an Education Assistant in a school setting. Students have the opportunity to begin integrating theory and skills learned in the classroom within a school setting
This course is designed to provide students with an in depth understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how to successfully support children and youth with ASD in the K-12 school system. This includes academic, behavioural, and environmental challenges which are specific to ASD. Students learn various skills and strategies to address sensory stimulation, communication, anxiety, and language challenges.
This course focuses on guiding the learning of children, youth and adults. A variety of theoretical perspectives for understanding and managing behaviour in individual and group settings is explored. NOTE: This course is delivered in a hybrid format (45 hours face-to-face and 15 hours online) and in a fully online format.
This course provides students with the opportunity to explore ways to support students and facilitate learning in the K-12 classroom. Strategies for supporting literacy and numeracy are discussed in detail. This course uses the BC Ministry of Education curriculum and core competencies as the foundation for directing support. The content of this course is specific to developing the skills, knowledge, and values in an Education Assistant setting.
This course explores the development of humans from conception to death. It includes physical, cognitive and psychosocial developmental domains. Students preparing to work in careers that involve other people need to clearly understand the complex, dynamic process of development throughout a person's lifespan. This knowledge can provide students with insight into their own development and the development of those they will encounter in their personal and professional lives. NOTE: This course is delivered in a hybrid format (45 hours face-to-face and 15 hours online) and in a fully online format.
This course provides learners with in-depth information on common special needs in the K-12 classroom, including an overview of inclusion and the BC Ministry of Education funding categories. It provides learners with a variety of strategies used to support K-12 students with special needs. The content of this course is specific to developing the core competencies required of education assistants in the K-12 school setting.
In this ten-week course, students integrate theory and practice skills that have been learned in the Education Assistant program and apply them in a school setting. Students complete a seven week full-time practicum in a classroom setting with concurrent classwork, as well as three weeks of focused online guided reflection.
Admission Requirements
*Practicum based learning is an essential component of this program. A criminal record may reduce an applicant’s access to the program and/or to required practicum opportunities. Applicants disclosing a criminal record are guided to explore other options. Depending on the nature of the offence, options may include applying for a pardon. Any associated cost is the responsibility of the student.
Your Costs
| Tuition: | $3782.38 |
| Application Fee: | $30.0 |
| Student Association Fee: | $92.0 |
| Total | $ |
*These prices are for domestic students and may not be 100% accurate. However, these estimates will give you an adequate idea of tuition and fees for our programs. These prices do not include textbook costs. All prices are subject to change.
| Tuition | $15300.0 |
| Application Fee | $100.0 |
| International Fee | $100.0 |
| Student Association Fee | $92.0 |
| Total | $ |
*These prices are for international students and may not be 100% accurate. However, these estimates will give you an adequate idea of tuition and fees for our programs. These prices do not include textbook costs. All prices are subject to change.
Additional Info
Students interested in enrolling in our Education Assistant program should be aware of the workload involvement. It is expected that most full-time students will spend approximately 3 hours per day with homework assignments in addition to the time spent in class or online (each online and face-to-face course requires 3-4 hours of class time per week). Most students spend 30-40 hours per week on school work.
There are two practicums in this program.
Practicums may be completed in a student's local community, assuming a suitable site can be secured. More information is provided in the application package.
Credit can be awarded for one or more courses in this program through Flexible Assessment.
Under the direction of a teacher and/or administrator, Education Assistants assist teachers in designing, implementing, supervising, and assessing educational programs, as well as providing instruction to individual students and groups of students.
They may also provide behavioural management, personal care, and supervision support in the classroom, school, playgrounds, and on field trips.
Specific responsibilities and duties are outlined in the British Columbia School Act as well as in the BCTF document "Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers and Teacher Assistants".
Graduates are prepared for employment in educational settings (elementary, junior high and high school levels). Generally, this is in the classroom in a school; however, it may include out-of-school settings that provide educational support to children and youth in care or alternative educational programs in youth centres.
There is high demand for Education Assistants. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE BC) estimates that there are 14,000 people working in this position in BC. Graduates are employed in both elementary and secondary schools in a variety of settings including general education classrooms, resource rooms and work experience sites. Education Assistants often start on-call in the school district and then apply to both full and part-time positions.
Sample Job Titles:
Delivery Method:?
Online, Blended
Credential:
Certificate
Categories: Health & Human Services, Education
Interests: Work With My Hands, Care for Others, Teach Others, Not Have a Desk Job
2700 College Way
Box 8500, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 5L7
Phone: 250-489-2751
Toll-free: 1-877-489-2687
Email: info@cotr.bc.ca