eLearning (Online Learning) Program Expectations

By registering in an eLearning course, each student agrees to abide by the following guidelines. All students or prospective students must read the following carefully, so they know exactly what is expected of them, and what they can expect from the program.

1. Software, Internet and Device requirements:

Online Learning students are responsible for obtaining the basic software and stable Internet connections (high speed is essential) required for successful completion of the online course, when you are working at home.It would be challenging to complete all course work using either a phone or tablet without a keyboard.  Reach out to guidance contact if you have concerns about this.

Browser/Device settings:

  • Allow cookies
  • Make sure that any browser extensions allow cookies

Students should submit files in one of the following approved file formats:

  • WORD  – file extension is .docx or .doc
  • PDF (portable document format) – file extension is .pdf
  • EXCEL  – file extension is .xlsx or .xls

Any OpenOffice file format (OpenOffice is a free download from www.openoffice.org) OR GoogleDocs converted to PDF through D2L OR O365 (Online Word, Powerpoint, etc)  downloaded to computer.

Note: Other formats such as Mac Pages files should be converted to one of the file formats above. https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202227

You should discuss other possible formats with your instructor. The file format is important so that your teacher can mark your work.  It is your responsibility to convert your files to one of the above formats.

Note: All assignments will be submitted through the Assignments tool.  Assignments should not be emailed, shared through Google drive, or submitted through other methods.

2. Attendance:

  • Summer School students are expected to dedicate 6 hours each day to access and submit work to their course.
  • Regular Day School (September – June): Students are considered to be present for the entire week of online learning, if they have logged in to the course site over the week. For semestered courses, a minimum of 6-8 hours a week is suggested for each course. You need to access your course and submit some work each week.
  • Students are expected to submit tasks as listed on the Course Checklist/News are, and meet each Unit/Activity deadline.  See APC050 information on Late Assignments.
    Full policy on Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting.
  • Students may be withdrawn from the course based on the neglect of the above criterion.

3. Final Course Completion Date: 

All Assignments, Unit Tests, Culminating Activities/Exams and Independent Study work must be submitted by the student by the completion date for the current semester.

For Day school (Sept-June), WCDSB there are no supervised/proctored exams.  Summer school exams are online.

4. Policy on Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting (including Late assignments)

See APC017 about late assignments. See APC050 information on Late Assignments.

Full policy on Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting

Final Course Completion Dates: 

See the School Year Calendar on the WCDSB website.

The PRISM acceptance and welcome email will outline start and end dates.

5. Teacher Feedback

A student can expect feedback from the course instructor, concerning a submission, within a week of receipt of the assignment under normal circumstances. The course instructor will notify a student within that time if there will be a delay. It is important to build on learning throughout a course, using the comments and suggestions provided by the instructor. Students should submit assignments as soon as the work is completed.

6. File naming guidelines

It is helpful to identify submitted work:

  • submission to the correct area as specified by the teacher/course package (assignment folder, discussion area, portfolio, quiz)
  • A descriptive filename that includes details about the assignment and your name such as Unit1Assign1Nyugen

7. Time spent working on the course

A student should expect to spend:

  • 6 hours a day for summer school .
  • 6 – 8+ hours per week Semester 1 or 2 (Sept-June)

NOTE: You need to access and submit some work to your course each week.

Students must ensure that they have this much time to devote to online learning studies before enrolling in a course. It is suggested that each student set a schedule of days and hours each week, when he/she will work on the online course. If a student leaves the work until he/she ‘feels’ like it, the work will not get finished!

8. Prepare for Internet downtime or device in repair

Online Learning students should always leave a work session with enough information and/or assignments printed or downloaded to allow them to work offline if necessary for at least one day. Because this program is Internet based, it is possible that the website may be inaccessible for technical reasons from time to time. This way, students will always have work to do, regardless of whether the website is available or not.

Be prepared to use a public library, school, or other location with WiFi should your personal Internet be unavailable.

Be prepared with a back up device borrowed or used from your school (school chromebook/cloubook), library device, tablet, phone, neighbour/friend just in case something happens to your device. Lack of a device should not be an obstacle for you to do your course work.

9. Login Issues

If a student experiences an issue with their login access to https://www.wcdsb.ca/students  My Apps then they need to inform the instructor who will put in a ticket with WCDSB help desk for a My Apps password reset. You were provided with the following instructions for logging in through My Apps – D2L 

NOTE: WCDSB students traveling outside of Ontario need to set up and test MFA prior to traveling.

NOTE: non-WCDSDB students access through their home board D2L then My Courses in Other Orgs widget

10. Technical Issues with D2L tool – See student eLearning readiness course

If students experience any technical problems while working on an Online Course (for example, the assignment folder is not functioning normally) then we suggest that you:

  • Try to complete the same task with another browser.
  • Update your computer or browser, clear browser cache.
  • Contact your teacher with very specific details and a screenshot.
  • Contact the Helpdesk at D2L: Phone: 1-800-222-0209. Be ready with very specific details.

11. Technical Issues with course materials

If students experience problems with the content of a course, they should email the course instructor and, state the course name, the unit, the activity and the section (content or assignment) in which the problem occurs. Copy the question or statement that is giving the difficulty, or describe the link that is not working. It is much easier for the course instructor to help if he/she is given this kind of direction. If a link is not working, be sure to clearly identify where the link occurs, and what error you receive when attempting to open it. A screenshot may be helpful.

You may also want to try some of the browser tips found in the student eLearning readiness course.

12. Reporting Periods:

  • A Midterm Report will be distributed to your home school. The home school will distribute the report to you. There is no mid-term report for summer school. Your teacher will provide on-going progress through PRISM.
  • A Final Report will be mailed to each online student’s home after the end of semester date. A copy of this Final Report will also be sent to the student’s Home School, for inclusion in the permanent record.
  • Progress/Learning Updates, Midterm, and final grades will also be emailed through PRISM