About Our Programme

To ensure that our programs reflect current learning trends, we provide secondary students with the opportunity to enroll in online courses through our eLearning Programme. The Ontario eLearning Consortium (OeLC) offers courses that might not be available at all high schools, that a student might need to take because of a timetable conflict, or to meet the Ministry of Education’s graduation requirement that each Ontario student complete two online eLearning courses during their high school career.
Students who take eLearning courses are provided with space in their timetable to work on their online course. Students will need access to a computer and internet connection at the school and may receive daily support from their eLearning teacher to help them successfully complete the course. Registration for eLearning courses is done through Xello (course planner/selection process) and/or the student’s Guidance Counselor. Please visit your Guidance Department to discuss if eLearning is a good choice for you.

What is eLearning?

eLearning takes advantage of digital learning tools and the internet to deliver curriculum in an online environment. You will use a learning management system provided by the Ministry of Education, known as “Brightspace” to access your course (whether it is hosted by us or another board). It is within this online learning environment that you will communicate and engage with your teacher and classmates, access lessons and learning materials, and submit assignments.

Online courses offer flexibility in terms of when, where, and how much time in a day you study.  However, online courses are as demanding as their classroom-based counterparts and therefore require students to be self-disciplined and organized.

What should I expect?

For many, online learning is a unique learning experience and the ideal solution to balance family, work, and personal interests in a busy schedule. Below are some things to consider.

Time requirements: You are expected to put in the same amount of time for an online course as you would if the course was face to face - to read course materials, research and clarify your understanding of key concepts, participate in online threaded discussion boards, complete assignments, and study for tests and/or complete culminating tasks.

Time Management: Although you have flexibility in what time you access your online course throughout the day, it still takes discipline to stay on top of each day’s activities, tasks, and assignments. It’s important to manage your time to ensure that you keep pace with your course work.

Communication: The online environment relies heavily on text communication (email, posts, discussion forums, feedback tools etc.).  This means that you must be comfortable communicating with your instructor in written form. You may have the opportunity to interact via web conferencing, audio recordings, video lesson recordings, or other tools that can be used in your course. Email communication seems to be used the most in online courses.

Being proactive: You must be comfortable actively seeking out help when needed. Remember that your teacher has no way of knowing if you have questions, concerns, or are having technical difficulties unless you tell them.  Keep in mind that a response to your electronic communication may not happen immediately. Stay on task and don’t wait until the last minute.

Attendance: You are required to log in at least once, between 8 a.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Friday, each week.  It is recommended  that you access your course every day to stay up-to-date on required expectations. You can access your course on weekends and evenings, but in order to be marked present, you must log in between Monday and Friday.  If you are not logging in during these times the Board procedures for non-attendance will be put in place, which includes automatic withdrawal from the course if you do not log in for a period of three consecutive weeks.

What are the technical requirements?

You don’t need to be a “computer expert”, but basic computer skills can be very helpful in an online environment.  Technical support is available if you encounter problems.

  • You will need access to the internet and a device (desktop/laptop/Chromebook) that supports multimedia content on a DAILY basis.
  • You can access your online course from school, home, the public library, or any other place where you have a proper internet connection.
  • You may need to use a variety of digital tools in Brightspace to review course content, submit assignments, post to discussion forums, review teacher feedback/announcements and check email.

What are the skills required to be successful?

The same rules and regulations that govern a regular face-to-face class also apply in an online class. You must participate in class discussions, group activities, complete all assignments, and adhere to deadlines for the submission of work. Your teacher will make you aware of course policies and general classroom rules and regulations.

  • You must be willing to use online communication tools like email. 
  • You must be responsible and self-motivated to learn.
  • You must report any issues to your teacher immediately. 
  • You must maintain the suggested pace for the course.