DIGITAL BOOKS
WEBSITES
PRINTABLES
VIDEOS
PODCASTS
VIDEO
Class Sets on Sora by OverDrive
Need a class set of a digital book for your class to read for online learning?
Please contact Shelley Wood (Shelley.Wood@wcdsb.ca) to make a request, and she will explore if it is available for purchase through Sora by OverDrive (please note, not all titles are available in digital formats).
Readaloud Videos for Remote Learning
The emergency nature of online schooling in the Spring of 2020 meant educators were granted leniency in recording book readalouds for remote learning. Starting with the 2021-2022 school year, these requirements have changed.
Access Copyright, the organization overseeing the protection of copywritten books, music, and other works in Canada, now requires those sharing readalouds in online environments to have paid licenses through Access Copyright (the WCDSB does not have an Access Copyright licence).
You are welcome to directly contact the publisher of the book you wish to readaloud to ask if an exception can be made. However, most require you to pay a fee to share readalouds online and have specific requirements for how that content is shared and stored.
For detailed information about the copyright considerations for book readalouds in the classroom, live online, or recorded for online, please read the following resources:
The Fair Dealing Decision Tool helps teachers decide whether "fair dealing" permits classroom use of print materials, artistic works, or audiovisual materials without first getting copyright permission. The tool helps teachers determine whether a specific intended classroom use is allowed by the Fair Dealing Guidelines.
Teachers! Thinking of using a copyright-protected work? Use the Fair Dealing Decision Tool to find out if the use is allowed under fair dealing.
Copyright-Approved Sources of Readaloud Videos
The WCDSB has paid subscriptions to many online resources that offer book readalouds that can be shared in the classroom, and via D2L and Google Classroom. Visit "Green Tools" in D2L, or EZ Find on the VLC for a complete list of online resources or ask your school's library staff for suggestions.
WCDSB Digital Resources
Websites
The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) has created the document "Fair Dealing Guidance for Canadian Libraries During the Time of COVID-19" to act as a guidance document to "provide clarity to support libraries in considering copyright as they provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Staff and students in WCDSB must follow APS017. Green Sites or “green tools/apps” are sites that are under contract and managed by the Waterloo District Catholic School Board and/or the Ministry of Education. Student information is safe and secured in the appropriate systems.
Due to the impacts of Covid, many vendors have temporarily made their usually paid digital resources available for free while students are learning from home. Many of these are considered “red apps” in that they may compromise the privacy of student information and are not approved for use in WCDSB. WCDSB staff are encouraged to use "Green Apps” for learning at home.
For a list of WCDSB Approved Apps please visit this document
(accessing this document requires signing in to your WCDSB account).
For more information about approved apps, please contact Stuart Bailey, WCDSB Privacy and Information Officer.
Accessing Password-Protected Links from Home:
Many WCDSB digital resources are password-protected to honour Terms of Usage agreements with our vendors.
For login details to access password-protected VLC links from home, open the following document and log in with your WCDSB Google account:
Access to Online Resources from Home/Remotely
Need help? Please email
Resource.Bookings@wcdsb.ca
Primary/Junior
Junior/Intermediate
Intermediate
Waterloo Region
