Background

The Saskatchewan Educational Leadership Unit (SELU) with the assistance of the College of Education and qualified professionals, first developed the Educational Assistants' Professional Learning Series (EAPLS) almost 20 years ago. Over time the modules have been revised to respond to the current learning needs as identified by educational professionals in provincial school divisions and First Nations education authorities. The EA Professional Learning Series is comprised of eight stand-alone modules that support the ongoing learning of educational assistants. Each of the modules is facilitated by a qualified SELU consultant providing interactive instruction pertinent to the work of educational assistants in schools.

Originally the professional learning series was designed to have a SELU consultant on-site to facilitate each of the modules. Recently there has been significant interest in offering the series through a virtual learning environment. SELU has renewed each of the five modules and has added three new modules.  We offer the modules through an online broadcast throughout the school year. Please check the SELU website for webinar updates.

Module Overview

The SELU Educational Assistants' Professional Learning Series learning outcomes include:

1. To provide professional learning opportunities aligned with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education's Inclusionary Philosophy and Beliefs
2. To develop an understanding of roles and collaboration skills within multidisciplinary teams
3. To develop skills to support students' independence and inclusion
4. To develop an understanding of a range of academic supports
5. To develop an understanding of a range of behaviour supports
   

EAPLS Module 1:  Collaborative Teams

Participants will learn about roles in multidisciplinary teams and practise skills of collaboration, team building, problem solving, and interpersonal communication.

EAPLS Module 2:  Supports for Learning

Participants will develop an understanding of the Saskatchewan's Ministry of Education learning models, the importance of relationships, the tiered approach to meeting student needs, the philosophy of inclusion, how to foster independence and self-determination, and effective problem solving to determine student learning goals, interventions, and supports.

EAPLS Module 3:  Academic Supports for Learning

Participants will develop an understanding of how to best support students as independent learners and the importance of explicit instruction that helps build automatic and reasoning skills.

EAPLS Module 4:  Understanding and Supporting Student Behaviour

Participants will develop an understanding of ways to support students' emotional and behavioural development within the classroom and school community.

EAPLS Module 5:  Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Participants will develop an understanding of children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and explore effective strategies for introducing environmental, learning, and behavioural supports.

EAPLS Module 6:  Understanding and Supporting Students with Autism

Participants will develop an understanding of children and youth on the Autism Spectrum and explore effective strategies to support communication, social, behavioural, and academic learning.

EAPLS Module 7:  Understanding and Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities

Participants will develop an understanding of the impact of learning disabiities upon learning, and explore effective strategies to enhance the academic success and socio-emotional well-being of students.

EAPLS Module 8: Supporting Learning for All

Participants will be provided an overview of the key concepts in the current seven modules. New participants to the EAPLS modules will be introduced to the EAPLS series and learn what modules may be of future interest. Past participants will be provided a review and refresher of their previous learning in the modules, along with some new and current content.  This module serves as an excellent introduction to our training series or a useful review or refresher for past participants.

 

• EAPLS Brochure