What is eLearning?
eLearning courses are Grade 9-12 credit courses that are delivered entirely online. These courses are asynchronous, meaning students do not have to log in at a specific time each day, but students must adhere to due dates and timelines outlined by their teachers. eLearning courses are scheduled as part of a student's regular day school timetable and can be hosted by secondary schools within Â鶹´«Ã½ or by other Ontario school boards. Â鶹´«Ã½ eLearning courses are taught by Â鶹´«Ã½ teachers and meet Ministry of Education curriculum expectations and contain Catholic content.
Mandatory Online Learning Credits
As per Ministry of Education PPM 167, all students must earn at least two online learning (eLearning) credits to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. This requirement applies to students who entered Grade 9 after 2020, unless they have been opted out or exempted. Parents/Guardians can opt their child out of this mandatory online learning requirement by contacting the student's home school.
Benefits of eLearning
Learning online offers several advantages:
- Flexibility: Students can access a wider variety of courses than may be offered at their home school.
- Engagement: Learning can occur through interactive features, and students can collaborate with peers across Â鶹´«Ã½ and the province.
- Digital Fluency: Participating in eLearning helps students improve their digital skills, which are valuable for lifelong learning and employment.
Â鶹´«Ã½ eLearning Course Offerings
Â鶹´«Ã½ offers a variety of eLearning courses each semester. Click here to access a list of courses offered. For detailed course descriptions and prerequisites, individuals can refer to the Secondary Course Calendar. If a desired course is not available at Â鶹´«Ã½, offerings from other Ontario school boards may be considered.
Registration for eLearning Courses
Â鶹´«Ã½ students: Registration for a Â鶹´«Ã½ eLearning course is processed through the student's Guidance Counsellor at their home school. This involves completing and returning the
2025-2026 eLearning Registration Form to their Guidance Counsellor. Once registration is completed, information regarding the registration status and other course details will be communicated to students and Parents/Guardians from the PRISM student registration system via email.
Students outside Â鶹´«Ã½: need to contact their home school Guidance Counsellor for information on how to register for a Â鶹´«Ã½ eLearning course. Priority for course enrollment in Â鶹´«Ã½ courses is given to Â鶹´«Ã½ students. Students can take a maximum of one full eLearning credit course per semester.
Technology Requirements
Students must have access to appropriate technology for eLearning which includes a Computer or Chromebook and high-speed internet. The digital tools available to students through the student software package in their
Â鶹´«Ã½ account are sufficient to complete their eLearning courses.
eLearning courses are housed on the Brightspace by D2L Virtual Learning Environment. Recommended internet browsers for Brightspace by D2L are the most recent versions of Google Chrome and Firefox.
**Please note: Â鶹´«Ã½ student accounts and eLearning courses cannot be accessed from outside of Canada.Students without access to required technology should speak to their home school Vice Principal about available options.
Is eLearning the Right Fit?
Before deciding to take an eLearning course, students should consider if it suits their learning style. Reading the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and completing the eLearning Readiness Quiz are recommended steps for reflection. The quiz helps students assess their skills for online learning and provides feedback based on their score. Regardless of readiness level, discussing options with a Guidance Counsellor, teachers, and Parents/Guardians is advised.
Mandatory Orientation Unit
Before beginning a Â鶹´«Ã½ eLearning course, students must complete the mandatory eLearning Student Orientation unit. This unit will be found in the "Content" section of their course within Brightspace by D2L when the semester begins.
Student Responsibilities and Workload
eLearning requires students to be self-motivated and self-reliant. Students are expected to participate daily or as required by the teacher and complete assignments independently by their due dates. Students should expect to spend between 5 to 12 hours per week on an eLearning course. Logging in daily and actively participating (reading materials, discussions, submitting assignments) are crucial for success.
Student Support
- Students in eLearning courses receive instruction and feedback from Ontario certified teachers.
- Guidance services are available from their home school.
- Technical support for the Brightspace by D2L platform is available via D2L and can be reached 24/7 by phone at 1-800-222-0209 or via email at supportON@d2l.com.
Accessing Courses
eLearning courses are accessed through Brightspace by D2L.
Â鶹´«Ã½ students access their courses by going to https://dpcdsb.elearningontario.ca and using their regular Â鶹´«Ã½ network username and password. Courses hosted by Â鶹´«Ã½ are typically found via the "waffle" icon, while courses hosted by other boards are in the "My Courses in Other Orgs" widget on the D2L landing page.
Students from other school boards access D2L through their own board's instance of Brightspace and then find the Â鶹´«Ã½ course in the "My Courses in other Orgs" widget.
Assessment and Evaluation
Â鶹´«Ã½ eLearning courses follow the same assessment and evaluation policies as regular in-person courses, aligning with Ministry guidelines and curriculum expectations. Teachers establish timelines for submitting assignments, tests, and discussions. Students are responsible for providing evidence of their learning by these deadlines. There are consequences for late and missed assignments, which will follow the guidelines of the school hosting the course and may include mark deductions. Students experiencing difficulty should contact their teacher within D2L. In most cases, eLearning courses do not have a final exam, but the teacher will confirm this on the course outline.
Other Important Information
- Cost: Taking a Â鶹´«Ã½ eLearning day school course is free for residents of Ontario who are currently attending a publicly funded school.
- Dropping a Course: To drop an eLearning course, a student must ask their guidance counsellor to remove them, complete any necessary forms, and may require a parent/guardian signature. The teacher cannot drop a student from the course.
- Textbooks: No textbooks are required for eLearning courses, as all content is provided online through D2L.
Online Conduct: Digital citizenship is the practice of being responsible, respectful, and ethical online, encompassing skills such as online safety, responsible communication, and the ability to critically evaluate digital information and its impact on themselves and others. These skills are necessary for positive interactions within the eLearning environment.
- Students are responsible for their actions using the network and digital tools.
- Actions within the learning management system (D2L) can be seen and monitored, including login times and IP addresses.
- Students should be cautious about information found online, verify it if possible, and report any uncomfortable messages to a teacher.
- Respecting copyright and trademarks is mandatory and submitting copied or AI generated work as one's own is prohibited.
- Keep passwords private.
- Regular communication with the online teacher is critical for student success and support.
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