As part of our commitment to support learning opportunities for our students that focuses on communication, critical thinking & problem solving, collaboration & leadership, global citizenship & character, creativity, inquiry & entrepreneurship, the TDSB provides all students with a variety of digital learning tools including G Suite for Education, Brightspace Online Classroom and the TDSB’s Virtual Library. These learning tools are carefully selected for their educational value and compatibility with the Ontario Curriculum to support and enhance learning.
What is G Suite for Education?
G Suite for Education is a suite of web based productivity tools, many also exist in iOS and Android app form. All TDSB students and staff have a G Suite account. TDSB has a contractual agreement with Google for G Suite for Education which is significantly different from a personal Google account anyone can create. The agreement provides TDSB with content ownership, application controls & support and protection from advertisements. You can read more about G Suite for Education here and their privacy and security practices here.
TDSB students have access to these core G Suite apps:
Calendar - individual calendar
Docs - word processing
Slides - presentations
Classroom - online classroom
Sites* - website creation
Drive - unlimited file storage
Sheets - spreadsheets
Forms - surveys
Keep - note taking
Gmail* - email
* indicates access to these tools begins in Grade 4. Students in grade 4 & 5 may send & receive email from TDSB staff & students only. In Grade 6 Gmail becomes fully functional.
What is Brightspace?
Brightspace is an online learning management system provided to all school boards in Ontario through the Ministry of Education. It includes an online classroom, a portfolio tool to help students document and share their learning with teachers. All TDSB students have a Brightspace account. Read more about Brightspace here.
What is the TDSB Virtual Library?
The TDSB Virtual Library provides online access to a collection of curriculum relevant, digital tools and resources that support literacy, research and inquiry. These resources include encyclopedias, databases, ebooks, videos, and subject-specific websites. Additionally, all users can search their school’s library collection and teachers can order professional and classroom resources through an integrated library catalogue. The TDSB’s Virtual Library is available to all staff and students 24/7 from school or home.
The use of all TDSB technology resources is governed by policy P088, The Acceptable Use of It Resources.
In addition to the above district provided tools, schools may select apps, websites or tools to use with students. In these instances, schools are responsible for the protection of student privacy and adherence to provider terms of service.
Some digital learning tools require that the TDSB share limited personal information such as the student’s name and email address for the purpose of creating an account to use the tool or service. Any content created in and/or stored in a district provided digital learning tool remains the property of TDSB. Personal information (name and email address) is used and shared by the TDSB for the above-noted purposes under the authority of subsection 11(3) and section 20 of the Ontario Regulation 298, R.R.O Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.E.2. The information is retained in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M. 56.
If your question is not answered by the resources on this page, please contact your school principal or Kevin Bradbeer, Senior Manager, Client Relations, IT Services at:
kevin.bradbeer@tdsb.on.ca, or
140 Borough Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M1P 4N6, or
416-338-4236