Description
Prepare for a career working with students in an educational setting to support the work of the teachers and clinicians. You will study and explore the developmental needs of children and the instructional strategies to meet those needs.
There is a focus on a variety of topics ranging from inclusive education and learner characteristics to supporting the learning environment, managing behaviour and professionalism.
Oral presentations, written assignments and group projects are part of the program.
The program is also available on a full-time basis. To learn how, see Educational Assistant Certificate
Regular Admission Requirements for Full Time Program
To apply under the regular admission requirements, you must have your Manitoba Grade 12.
Mature Student Admission Requirements for Full Time Program
If you are 19 years of age or older and have been out of high school for a minimum of one year at the time of application, and you do not meet the regular admission requirements, you may apply under the Mature Student admission requirements.
Upon acceptance into the program, submit Adult Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector (ACRVS) and Provincial Child Abuse Registry (PCAR) check documents, dated no more than six months prior to you attending the practicum. See CO-OP/Practicum Information for details.
For the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) you must achieve scores of 8 for Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening. (Please note that Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT) results are not an acceptable proof of English Language Proficiency. The CLB levels must be exit levels from an ESL program. CanTEST, IELTS and TOEFL tests are other acceptable ways of demonstrating English Language Proficiency.)
English Language Proficiency Requirements
English is the language of instruction at the College. Applicants to the College are responsible for a level of English proficiency that is sufficient to participate in all aspects of College study, including lectures, reading, writing and discussion.
To make an appointment to complete the CanTest assessments, contact Red River College Polytechnic's Language Training Centre at 204-945-6151, 300-123 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A3.
Distance Education Part Time Program
Transcript, resume and letter not required to register. Registration is on a course-by-course basis.
If you are a Distance Education student, you must have access to email.
To succeed in this program you should have good oral and written communications skills in the English language and be able to model basic mathematical problem solving.
You must demonstrate active listening skills and be willing to accept direction and responsibility.
You should be flexible and be able to work in a team setting.
You must successfully complete 17 courses and the practicum to graduate from this program. Total program hours will be either 548 or 554 hours, depending on your chosen electives. You must obtain a grade of C+ in each course to successfully complete the program. The practicum is evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
Courses will be available through full-time and part-time classroom and distance delivery. Your total program hours will depend on the electives you choose (548 or 554 hours).
Part-time courses are available primarily through distance delivery. Limited space may be available in select full-time courses for part-time registrations. For more information,
contact: 204-694-1789 or toll free 1-866-242-7073.
Note: Students may take a course and its prerequisite at the same time, however the first five courses listed below must be taken in the following order.
These courses can be taken in any order, but the following order is recommended:
Required Elective (choose one):
Last course:
Optional (Not as credit towards the program):
The purpose of this course is to increase fundamental knowledge and skills using a current Windows operating system. The course content includes an introduction to Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word and PowerPoint applications. Being able to competently use basic computer technology should enable you to assist teachers and support students more effectively.
This course instructs the techniques and processes for educational assistants to produce accurate documentation in written communication skills using a variety of genre. It outlines the use of a thesis statement and APA format for research purposes. Emphasis is placed on sentence structure, developing a variety of sentence types and the correct use of grammar, spelling, capitalization and punctuation. The intent of this course is to provide educational assistants with the skills to support students in the writing process. The course should improve the educational assistant’s written communication with teachers.
This course examines the evolution of inclusive education in the public school system with an emphasis on the supportive services available to students in an inclusive classroom setting. The majority of educational assistants working in Manitoba school are employed to support students receiving inclusive education services. This course supplies background information that assists educational assistants to contribute to meaningful discussions about students who have exceptionalities. It puts the educational assistants “in the loop” without requiring that they be “experts” and without implying that they are in any way responsible for programming decisions. This course helps the educational assistants to better interpret program instructions and implementation strategies. This knowledge assists educational assistants to participate on a more meaningful level than simply following instruction. It helps educational assistants to prepare for the variety of challenges that they encounter in schools with an emphasis on making their work more effective in the supporting role that they serve with teachers in assisting students to work toward achieving the outcomes that have been identified in their program. This course provides basic terminology related to inclusive education that enables educational assistants to dialogue with teachers regarding students who have specific exceptionalities.
This course familiarizes you with the school system and how to effectively operate within this setting. It provides a detailed study of how a school system functions. Emphasis is placed on the roles and responsibilities of the educational assistant in the classroom and within the educational support system.
Educational assistants serve an important and dynamic role in providing educational opportunities to students and in making schools more efficient and effective. Gaining knowledge concerning the school system’s operations and the role descriptions of educational assistants and other staff enables you to attend to your duties with confidence.
Develop a professional portfolio that will be the foundation of your career development. Developing a professional portfolio will build your own and other's awareness of your proven skills, knowledge and understanding. Learn what to document, how to document it, and how to use your professional portfolio for a successful job interview.
This course provides an overview of communication skills and strategies that foster effective team functioning as well as a rationale for effective communication and collaborative teamwork. There is a focus on interpersonal communication that involves relating to others in verbal, non-verbal, visual and written forms. Throughout this course, students will have the opportunity to try the techniques suggested and self-evaluate to find the communications styles that work best for specific individuals.
This course examines the process of learning for all children. Topics include stages of development, learning styles, theories of learning, influences on learning and theories of intelligence.
Management of student behaviour is a major concern for teachers and educational assistants because of its importance in establishing a positive learning environment. This course provides information and strategies on how educational assistants can contribute to an effective behaviour management approach.
Supporting the teacher in providing behavioural and social support to students is one of the main roles of educational assistants, therefore, it is important for educational assistants to have the skills to effectively manage student behaviour and assist in the development of the social interaction skills of students.
This course provides an overview of how the learning environment influences learning outcomes and the ways that educational assistants support students. The main function of an educational assistant in a classroom is to provide support for students and assist teachers so that students can achieve the outcomes that have been identified for them in their program. Student contact time is identified as a main role of educational assistants. This course provides a detailed description of an educational assistant’s role and responsibilities in providing tutorial support for students.
This course provides an overview of the reasons for student assessment and evaluation with a focus on how the educational assistant can assist in student observation, record keeping and reporting to the teacher. Educational assistants observe and record student performance, therefore it is important that they are aware of the assessment process and gain knowledge regarding ways that they can support this process.
This course explores aspects of professional conduct and ethical practices as they relate to interacting with students, teachers, other school staff and the community. Educational assistants encounter ethical issues, including confidentiality, record management and the demands placed upon them by teachers and staff. Therefore, it is important that educational assistants discuss and practice ethical guidelines.
This course uses a hands-on approach to familiarizing students with the various ways in which technology can be used as an instructional tool. Students are engaged in acquiring knowledge and practicing subject specific skills and procedures using technology. Being able to competently use instructional technology should enable educational assistants to assist teachers and support students more effectively. This course gives a focus to curriculum support and assistive/augmentative technology.
This course provides information about specific student exceptionalities, how certain characteristics may affect the learning process of students and strategies that can be utilized by educational assistants working with students who experience these challenges. As an educational assistant, it is important to be knowledgeable about the diverse educational characteristics of students in classrooms and the implications of these characteristics for instruction. This course provides an emphasis on making the educational assistant’s work more effective in the supporting role with teachers in assisting students to work toward achieving the outcomes that have been identified in their program. This course provides the basic terminology that enables educational assistants to dialogue with teachers regarding students who have specific exceptionalities.
This course provides information and practical strategies for educational assistants that should make their work more effective when supporting students in the English Language Arts curriculum. The language arts program is a major content area that educational assistants will encounter when working with individual and groups of students. By developing knowledge and strategies in this content area, educational assistants will be more informed to assist teachers and support students more effectively.
This course focuses on building encouragement, positive attitudes, confidence and academic content, practice and strategy application that can be utilized by educational assistants when supporting student learning in Mathematics. Developing knowledge of the curriculum, math processes, positive attitudes and core competencies will enable educational assistants to support students and teachers more effectively.
Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in youth, to provide initial help and to guide youth toward appropriate support.
This course provides simple First Aid and CPR techniques taught in an interactive environment for individuals who want an overview of First Aid and CPR for the home or workplace. This course covers the role, function and responsibilities of the first aider, skills needed to recognize and respond to emergencies, shock and treatment, major bleeds. obstructed airway and other breathing emergencies, cardiovascular emergencies, and CPR Level C. CPR Level C covers adult/child/baby CPR - one rescuer, adult/child/baby choking, barrier devices/pocket masks, AED, adult/child 2-rescuer CPR.
Learn to recognize challenging behaviour and develop the skills that focus on your response. Improve your communication skills to help the student return to a safe learning state.
Develop a professional portfolio that will be the foundation of your career development. Learn what to document, how to document it, and how to use your professional portfolio for a successful job interview. Learn about e-portfolios and how to evaluate and select an appropriate e-portfolio platform.
This course provides practical experience through interaction with students and staff in an approved educational setting. It provides the student with an opportunity to shadow and observe experienced educational assistants, to have student contact time and to participate in tutoring activities with students while supporting classroom teachers. At the practicum site, educational assistant candidates are expected to participate as fully as possible in the delivery of support services. This includes working cooperatively as an active team member, sharing responsibilities for carrying out prescribed duties, demonstrating self-initiative, attending required meetings and contributing new ideas and approaches appropriate to the placement. Educational assistants are under the supervision of the site supervisor or designate for the entire duration of the placement period.
The Practicum Option course component of the program integrates an educational assistant employee’s knowledge, skills and attitude as part of the employment experience in a school environment. Knowledge is defined as what an educational assistant knows and can apply. Skills are defined as what an educational assistant can do. Attitude is how an educational assistant conducts herself/himself as an employee of the educational system.
At the time of registration in the Practicum Option, students must be employed as an educational assistant with a minimum of 1000 hours worked in a classroom in the school system. The total number of hours may include educational assistant substitute employment worked within the last three years.
The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (R) Program is a safe, non-harmful behaviour management system designed to aid human service professionals in the management of disruptive and assaultive people, even during the most violent moments. It has been developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute, a training organization devoted to training staff in the safe management of potentially violent individuals.
The practicum for this program integrates theory and practice in the work environment by providing first-hand experience in a Manitoba K-12 school. On-site portion of practicum is generally 5 weeks (9:00 am -3:30 pm) and follows the school's schedule. Students attend placement at their school site Monday to Friday. There is no option to attend part time. The practicum is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
Practicums for students at the School of Continuing Education
Placements are available on a limited and fluctuating basis. There may be a waiting period for practicum registrations and placements. Practicum placements will be determined by the College and typically take 2-4 weeks to confirm after the course start date.
To be eligible to register for the practicum, you must:
Contact the program facilitator at cpfau@rrc.ca to inquire about registering for practicum and providing record checks.
Practicums for students at Regional Campuses
To be eligible to register for the practicum, you must:
Every effort will be made to place students in a facility of specific interest but due to facility availability, instructor time factors, and practicum timing in general, the final placement decision will be made by the Red River College instructor.
Online learning is a critical component of course delivery in all Red River College Polytechnic programs. To ensure each student has the tools they need to achieve their academic goals, all Red River College Polytechnic students require, at minimum:
1. Off-campus access to a current computer with a webcam
2. A high speed internet connection
• Recommended minimum speed: 10 mbps for download, 3 mbps for upload
• Slower internet connection speeds may result in audio and video issues. Please keep in mind that if others in your home are using the same internet connection at the same time as you are, you may also experience audio and video issues.
• Please refer to https://www.rrc.ca/future-students/computer-requirements/ for further information on Computer Requirements for Students.
Please note that any anticipated costs are not included in Books and Supplies estimates.
Upon completion of the program, you should be able to:
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which documents and compares an individual's prior learning gained from prior education, work and life experiences and personal study to the learning outcomes in College courses/programs. For more information, please visit www.rrc.ca/rpl.
If you enrolled in the part-time Para Educator program prior to September 1, 2010, you can complete the Para Educator Certificate by taking the equivalent course in the new Educational Assistant program.
Special Education in Canadian Schools - Equivalent to: EDUA-1003 Inclusive Education
Orientation to the School System - Equivalent to : EDUA-1004 EA Roles and Responsibilities
Communication and Collaborative Partnerships - Equivalent to: EDUA-1006 Communication and Partnerships
Characteristics of Learners - Equivalent to: EDUA-1007 Characteristics of Learners
Managing Student Behaviour & Social Interactions - Equivalent to: EDUA-1008 Managing Behaviour
Supporting the Teaching & Learning Environment - Equivalent to: EDUA-1009 Supporting Learning Environment
Observation, Record Keeping & Reporting - Equivalent to: EDUA-1010 Observation and Documentation
Professionalism and Ethical Practices - Equivalent to: EDUA-1011 Professionalism
Instructional Technology - Equivalent to: EDUA-1012 Instructional Technology and EDUA-1001 Basic Computer Applications
Introduction to Learning Disabilities - Equivalent to: EDUA-1013 Exceptional Students
Instructional Content and Practice - Equivalent to: EDUA-1014 ELA Content and Practice AND EDUA-1015 Math Content and Practice
Writing Skills - Intermediate - Equivalent to: EDUA-1002 Academic Writing
PRAC-1226 Practicum - Equivalent to: PRAC-1035
You must complete your part-time program within four years from the start of the first course in the program, unless otherwise stated in the program outline. You must achieve a minimum of C+, 65%, in each course and pass the practicum. The practicum is evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
You will not be granted more than 75% of your credit requirements for graduation through transfer of credit.
When you have successfully completed all the required courses in this program, be sure to apply for your certificate. For complete details on applying to graduate and convocation, see rrc.ca/convocation.
Questions about graduation? Please call 204-694-1789 or 1-866-242-7073 for assistance.
Graduation with Honours
If you obtain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 or better for the program, you will graduate with honours. If you fail any course in the program, you will not be eligible for this honours designation.
Educational Assistant graduates will find a range of entry-level employment opportunities in educational settings.
For information about related programs and services, visit Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), formerly Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
For information about the labour market and earning potential, visit the Job Bank.