D-06 Electronic Learning

The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) believes in the appropriate use of technology to support and enhance student learning and achievement. We live in an increasingly digital world and students require the skills necessary to operate in both physical and digital spaces.

The provision of electronic learning opportunities supports the goals and purposes of education as defined by the Ministry of Education and the DSBN and in accordance with Ministry of Education policy.

Electronic learning or e-Learning (online learning) - is a system through which curriculum (secondary credits) is delivered over a wide area network. Students can work on course material daily, provided they have a computer and Internet access.

In 2022, the Ministry of Education released PPM167 which revised the graduation requirement to include two eLearning credits. E-Learning provides students with the opportunity to have greater flexibility, more choice, and develop the digital skills needed in all aspects of their post-secondary pathways. Parents/guardians may request an “opt-out form” through their guidance department to record their decision to opt out of this graduation requirement.

All content for electronic learning opportunities developed under the auspices of the DSBN is the property of the DSBN who has sole copyright to the material.

The development and provision of eLearning opportunities for students will be offered within the framework of the following guiding principles:

• E-Learning may be offered to DSBN students who might otherwise not have access to a particular course or who might benefit from an alternate format for learning or by the recommendation of the Administrator because of special circumstances.
• DSBN e-Learning credit courses will be available to students from Boards who are members of the Ontario eLearning Consortium according to the guidelines for access as established by the Consortium
• DSBN e-Learning credit courses may be offered (fees may apply) to students outside the DSBN who cannot otherwise receive the same credit from the Board with whom they are registered and have a letter of support from their Administrator
• Increase their digital fluency and gain transferable skills to support lifelong learning and employment opportunities
• Within each course, there will be ongoing and timely interaction among students and between teachers and students, to enhance student learning and social interaction
• Students will be offered access during the school day to DSBN technology if necessary for an electronic learning course
• Only qualified teachers will be selected to deliver electronic learning credit courses
• Program will be reviewed on an on-going basis using criteria that include:
  • student academic achievement
  • alignment of course content with Ministry guidelines and expectations
  • course completion rates
  • participant feedback
• Development of new electronic learning courses will be based on student needs guided by input from staff and approved prior to implementation by the Superintendent responsible for electronic learning

All e-Learning courses will be managed and delivered using provincially developed e-learning credit courses through the provincial Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). All other forms of e-learning will be completed through a platform (VLE, email provider or other) agreed upon by the Information Technology Services team and the Superintendent responsible for e-learning.

This ensures that:

• Security of copyright on DSBN e-learning documents is maintained
• Electronic communication between students, and between students and teachers is logged
• A secure, standardized, full featured environment for electronic learning is provided by the DSBN