Digital Learning Tools

Digital Learning Tools

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. School staff may submit student assignments to an authorized plagiarism detection service provider to verify the authenticity of the work. The tools will support the school’s implementation of assessment and evaluation in accordance with Growing Success (Ministry of Education). 

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:

*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.

What is Turnitin? 

Turnitin is plagiarism detection software used to verify the authenticity of student work. To ensure academic integrity and academic honesty, school staff may submit student assignments to a plagiarism detection service provider to verify the authenticity of student work. Turnitin’s detection software will

alert the classroom teacher of assignments which appear to contain other source material. These tools support the school’s implementation of assessment and evaluation in accordance with Ministry of Education requirements in Growing Success.

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.

Notice of Collection and Use of Personal Information: Some digital learning tools require TDSB to collect and share limited personal information, such as the student’s name, school name, email address, for the purpose of creating an account to use a tool or service. In addition, TDSB uses the tools to collect personal information in order to facilitate student learning, including the collection of student assignments, the facilitation of access to school and TDSB learning resources, the management of student and classroom activities, and to assist teachers with assigning and evaluating work, communicating with students and to provide instructions. This personal information may also be collected and shared to facilitate administration of school and TDSB programs and student participation in extra-curricular and social activities. Any content created in and/or stored in a TDSB provided digital learning tool remains the property of TDSB.

This personal information is collected, used and shared by TDSB under the authority of sections 169.1-173 of the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.E.2 (the “Education Act”), Part VI of the Education Act, subsection 11(3) and section 20 of the Ontario Regulation 298, R.R.O under the Education Act to administer the above purposes. This information is retained in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M. 56 and is disclosed to TDSB authorized staff, school staff, TDSB authorized service provider(s), on TDSB’s behalf, for the above-noted purposes.

Questions regarding the collection and use of personal information should be directed to Kevin Bradbeer, Senior Manager, IT Business Operations, TDSB IT Services at Kevin.Bradbeer@tdsb.on.ca, or 140 Borough Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M1P 4N6, or 416-436-9223.