Qualification to work in an ASD Unit.

Amoureux

Our school is getting an ASD unit next year and I will be working in this unit. Long term I wont be in the unit full time but it will be up to 50% of my timetable as well as some learning support. I want to get an appropriate qualification and I'm a bit confused by the different courses on offer. Would anyone please be able to offer some advice on what would be the most suitable course?

implausible

Amoureux wrote: »

Our school is getting an ASD unit next year and I will be working in this unit. Long term I wont be in the unit full time but it will be up to 50% of my timetable as well as some learning support. I want to get an appropriate qualification and I'm a bit confused by the different courses on offer. Would anyone please be able to offer some advice on what would be the most suitable course?

All I can offer is what happened in our place - the teacher in charge was sent on this course in St Angela's. You have to be working in an ASD unit to do it and it's part-time. The following year another teacher was sent on this course.

Amoureux

Thanks very much, it's helpful to know what other people have done.

Would love to hear from anyone here that has completed this course, just a general overview of what the course entails, how demanding it is, etc.

rainbowtrout

Ya two teachers I work with both did the course in St Angela's. One runs the ASD unit in the school. No idea what the course entails though.

Amoureux

Just wondering did they do the 1 year certificate or the 2 year diploma?

rainbowtrout

Amoureux wrote: »

Just wondering did they do the 1 year certificate or the 2 year diploma?

I don't think the course is around that long and when it started it was a diploma only.

solerina

Amoureux wrote: »

Just wondering did they do the 1 year certificate or the 2 year diploma?

There is an online cert/diploma (1/2 years) run by ICEP and St. Pats. I know 3 people working in an ASD unit who did this course...handy as it doesn't involve attending lectures in person. It usually starts in Sept and again in Jan ( I think anyway)


Check this page for info
http://www.icepe.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148&Itemid=18

Amoureux

The online ICEP/St Pats course would be quite good as I'd be able to start that one straight away, whereas the St Angelas one I've missed the enrolement so i'd have to wait until September 2015. Would the ICEP course be recognised at the same level?

solerina

Amoureux wrote: »

The online ICEP/St Pats course would be quite good as I'd be able to start that one straight away, whereas the St Angelas one I've missed the enrolement so i'd have to wait until September 2015. Would the ICEP course be recognised at the same level?

Why wouldn't it be ???
Yes, the course is awarded by St Pats /DCU so its a proper Grad Cert / Grad Diploma and you can go onto a masters from the diploma

Amoureux

Thanks Solerina, had only really heard about the course in Angelas before, its nice to know there's an option for me without having to go all the way to Sligo, good to know that there are people working in ASD units who have done this exact course.

Windorah

Hey,
I did that ICEP course. I chose three modules, one of which was autism. I found it really interesting and the readings and assignments were clear and easy to understand.
We were set four units with in each module. Each unit had a set reading and course work. We then had to upload a response to the unit after we had finished it. At the end of the module there was an assignment of I think about 5,000 words (I can't remember exactly).
Hopefully that's helpful!! If you have any more questions I can try answer though:)

Amoureux

Thanks Windorah, great to hear from someone who has done this course. A couple more questions if you don't mind. Is there a starting date for each module or do you do it in your own time? Did you consider doing the Masters which follows on from this course?

solerina

Amoureux wrote: »

Thanks Windorah, great to hear from someone who has done this course. A couple more questions if you don't mind. Is there a starting date for each module or do you do it in your own time? Did you consider doing the Masters which follows on from this course?

Have just spoken to my friend who did the St Pats course, she said you must do 4 modules to get the cert, you have 4 years from when you start to complete all 4. The start dates for the modules are Sept-Dec, Jan-Mar, Apr-June so you wont finish it in a year if you don't take a break as you would need to do the 4th module in Sept-Dec of the next year (but you could overlap and start the diploma in Sept too apparently, she did this). Its 750 per module(or was when she started). There is a 3,000 word essay due for every module. There is a 8,000 word dissertation due for the diploma. She when straight through and completed the masters which involved 1 full week in St. Pats in July and 3/4 days in the college on Saturdays. There were 2x 2hrs online every week up to Christmas online lectures also. There were 2 essays and a 15,000 word thesis involved. She said that she also had to do two further modules one of which involved TP visits. She said it was hard work but enjoyable.

Amoureux

Thanks Solerina, thats great information about linking on to the masters, will definitely be signing up for this course now. Have a great interest in this area and I'm looking forward to developing my knowledge and skills, thanks very much to everyone for all the input.

Windorah

Amoureux wrote: »

Thanks Windorah, great to hear from someone who has done this course. A couple more questions if you don't mind. Is there a starting date for each module or do you do it in your own time? Did you consider doing the Masters which follows on from this course?

I started my course in January and each module ran for a set time. I think about three months each with a break over the summer. You could do it at your own pace and if you wanted you could leave all the readings and assignments till the end of the module hand in date but I wouldn't recommend it!!!

I did the course intending to go on to the masters but I relocated to oz and was actually offered a scholarship type thing here to do a masters so happy days!

In saying that it was the special education qualification that got me my visa!! Not my main primary teaching degree!