Did you know that the number of students enrolled in eLearning has increased by around 16 percent every year since 2011 in Canada? In addition, with the pandemic, more and more students have enrolled in eLearning options.
If you choose to enroll your child in eLearning through the Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, it is important that you know how to navigate the system.
Are you prepared to help your child be successful with online learning? Keep reading for your guide to, My ALCDSB and how to successfully navigate online education for children.
ALCDSB Login - ALCDSB Virtual Commons
To access the information your student needs, you will need to log in to the Virtual Commons. The virtual commons gives your student access to all of the digital ALCDSB eLearning tools they will need to be successful.
You can access the virtual commons on a phone or PC, and from any browser. However, for the best experience, Google Chrome is the recommended browser.
To log in to My ALCDSB, you will visit this website.
Once there, add the site to your favourites or bookmarks. Login information can be obtained through your school's principal if you do not have it yet.
Your student will also need FreshGrade. FreshGrade gets used to submit work from home. There are a few apps through FreshGrade. Below, we provide all of the information you need to access and understand how Freshgrade works
The student app is what your child needs to submit their work. However, there is also a parent app that allows parents to view and comment on their student's work.
On a mobile device or tablet, FreshGrade can get downloaded as an app.
When you visit through the website or app, you will select the school district and then log in from there.
My ALCDSB eLearning
Are you debating whether ALCDSB eLearning is right for your child? In making this decision, it is important to consider the benefits of eLearning.
eLearning is learner-centric. How does your student learn? In the classroom, teachers are responsible for a room full of kids learning. There is not always the time to slow down and individualize the teaching style to each child.
However, with eLearning, your student gets the opportunity to learn in a way that suits their style of learning.
eLearning allows for flexible timing. Is your student unable to attend school regularly because of scheduling issues? If this is the case, eLearning may be right for your student.
If you need learning to be more flexible than a traditional school day, consider eLearning.
Enhance proficiency with technology and the internet. It's not a secret; we live in a digital age. To be successful in life, your students need to know how to access information and navigate technology.
With eLearning, students have the opportunity to begin learning these skills early.
Content is paced for the student. For some students, the pace in the classroom moves too slowly, and they get bored. For other students, the pace is too fast, and they get caught feeling behind as they're still struggling to understand concepts and the class has moved on.
With eLearning, students have an opportunity to move at a pace that works for them. They can slow down and spend more time on a concept until they have mastered it or move on when they have mastered the concept.
Prepare your student for college. Do you want your student to be a lifelong learner?
eLearning prepares students to be successful in college. With eLearning, students are able to start learning how to be successful without constant supervision from a teacher or parent.
These skills are able to get translated into the college experience. Students in college are expected to have the ability to self-direct and schedule their time. Students who have engaged in eLearning get a head start on learning these essential skills.
D2L ALCDSB
The Brightspace Learning Management System or D2L is another part of the online education platform.
At the bottom of their Virtual Commons screen, students will find a "My Courses" widget. This widget will allow your student to navigate to their courses through D2L.
If students struggle to access their eLearning tools, they can also create a ticket with the helpdesk. The helpdesk is in the student apps section of the Virtual Commons.
Once your student is ready to access their courses, set them up for success with great eLearning tips and tricks.
Create a learning space. When your child is learning from home, they need a space to work in that is free from distractions. It is easy to get distracted by a television, a toy, or a conversation.
Set up a space that is free of distractions to help your student be successful in their eLearning.
Know how My ALCDBSB works. To be successful, your student must know how to navigate the My ALCDBSB learning platform. Take the time to sit down and learn how My ALCDBSB works, and help your student learn as well.
Know teacher expectations. What are the teacher expectations when it comes to due dates, assignments, and submitting work? It is imperative to know this as you navigate eLearning.
It can be helpful to set up a calendar that lists all the upcoming due dates and assignments.
Make a schedule. Sure, eLearning is great because it allows your student to attend school at a time that works for them. However, your student still needs a schedule.
Children work best with structure, and part of that structure comes in how a day is planned. Make a consistent schedule and time for your child to complete school work.
This will help your child know when it is time to sit down and work. It will also help them learn how to create their own schedule in the future.
Ask questions. Questions in an eLearning platform are just as important as questions in the classroom. If your student is confused or you are confused, reach out to your child's teacher and ask for help.
If you do not ask the questions you have, you could be setting your child up for failure.
Be an active participant. Make sure your student participates in discussions and forums. When answering questions on discussion forums, do not allow them to simply agree and move on.
Have them practice their skills in really thinking by having conversations that they add to. When participating in discussion forums, make sure your student knows teacher expectations around writing.
Should your child use formal writing in the discussion forum? Or is it okay for them to utilize slang and emojis?
Incorporate no screen learning time. At the end of the day, your child is still a child. They need time to step away from screens and the classroom.
In school, children get this opportunity through field trips and other projects. Is your child learning about the history of Canada? Take a trip to the Canadian Museum of History or related establishment in your area.
Do fun activities for science that involve your child utilizing their hands. Learning at home gives you the unique opportunity to take an active role in your child's education and teach them that learning can be fun.
Encourage and motivate your child. Even in the classroom, rewards systems are used. Find ways to encourage and motivate your child when they are engaged in eLearning.
Utilize brain breaks. Your child may struggle to sit in front of a screen for long periods of time; that's normal. In addition, staring at a screen too long can affect your child's eyes.
Take time throughout the day for your child to have brain breaks. A popular productivity method getting utilized is the Pomodoro technique.
This is a great way to plan your child's brain breaks. In this technique, you work for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break. Every four cycles, you get a longer 15 to 30-minute break.
This will help your child focus and get their job done, knowing they will get a break. You will also learn an effective productivity technique when using the Pomodoro technique as an adult.
Start Your Child on the Path to Success
Engaging in eLearning has many benefits for children. If your child needs an educational experience outside the walls of a traditional school, My ALCDSB is an excellent option.
Here at Insurdinary, we have families too. We understand how important your child's education is. We also understand that to be successful in school, your child needs a healthy body.
Make sure your child is ready to engage in eLearning with a healthy mind and body. Get health insurance quotes for your family today.
