Diploma in Educational Support

Help students with diverse learning needs achieve academic and social success.Program OverviewOutstanding career preparationThis program will equip you with competencies to support students with disabilities and/or Individual Education Plans while maintaining a safe and professional environment that promotes students' well-being.Things you'll do and learn Support students with academic, behavioural, and personal care needs in educational settings from kindergarten through high school Use Universal Design for Learning principles Foster social inclusion Work as part of the special education team Accurately report information related to student learning Field placementsIn Semesters 2, 3 and 4, you'll complete field placements in a school where you'll support students with special needs in the classroom. Sheridan arranges the field placement experience for you. During your placement, you'll encounter students with a range of exceptionalities including physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behaviour disorders, visual and hearing impairments, autism and learning disabilities.The Skills Passport: Augment your learning with specialized certificationsThe Skills Passport is a series of optional training events that Sheridan offers to Educational Support students in their final year of study. We selected these workshops to provide you with the opportunity to augment your learning with additional skills specific to working with children, youth and young adults in educational environments. There's an intentional focus on skills related to supporting behavioural needs and mental health — two areas identified by our Professional Advisory Council as inherent to the role of the Educational Assistant in today's classrooms.Additional informationYou'll learn from professors with specialized graduate degrees and who are highly experienced in the field of special education. Your classroom activities will include: Group seminars and cooperative learning. Reflective practice linked to field placement experiences. Lectures combined with activity-based learning that incorporates the laptop. In addition to full-time studies, the option of part-time evening classes accommodates the needs of adults who work during the day. The Educational Support program uses laptop computers for in-class work and home assignments. All course materials are web-supported, with materials available to you 24/7 through your laptop and the Internet. Your learning opportunities will be greatly enhanced by having increased access to the Internet, learning resources and your classmates.Flexible learningThe Educational Support program offers course-based registration, which allows you to create your own timetable (based on course availability) by selecting the days/times that work best for you. You can choose to take a full-time course load or study part-time during the day or evening. Please note that the courses offered in the part-time option are identical to those in the full-time option, and the graduation requirements are the same. However, it will take you longer to complete the diploma on a part-time basis and there may be financial implications to consider. If you are unsure of the financial or academic consequences of attending part-time, you should contact the Program Academic Advisor, the Office of the Registrar or the Student Advisement Centre for more information.  PCESD