Online learning
At Sydney Distance Education High School we use a range of technologies and learning platforms to deliver teaching and learning remotely and meet individual student learning needs.
Email is an important mode of communication at Sydney Distance Education High School. We recommend that students check their emails daily. Our students must use their department email address (@education.nsw.gov.au) for all email communication. Student email accounts can be accessed in the student portal.
Refer to our Technical support page to help you get started with the student portal.
elearning
Students access their online learning courses on our school elearning site.
Students will need to sign in using their department student portal account.
You can contact any teacher to retrieve your username or reset your password.
Important elearning information
Student induction
Our students will be supported to use our elearning platforms during the Student induction program.
Moodle (elearning)
From 2005, our school implemented Moodle to deliver learning for our students. When you sign into elearning it will go to Moodle.
Canvas
From 2024, our school implemented the Canvas for all of our new curriculum courses. Both learning management systems will be used in parallel until the end of 2029. After this very long transition period, Canvas will be our only elearning platform.
Accessing new Canvas courses
Every new course developed in Canvas will appear in Moodle, but these courses will be empty with a direct link to the new course in Canvas.
Some students may want to sign in directly to Canvas.
Signing in
When students signs in to Moodle, Canvas or the Student portal, they will not have to log in again when they go between platforms.
We recommend that students signs in to the Student portal first which has links to both Moodle (elearning) and Canvas.
Refer to our Technical support page to help you get started with the student portal.
Parents/carers and supervisors can track their student's progress on Moodle (elearning) and Canvas. Unlike students you will need to create passwords for both platforms.
For both platforms use the supervisor email address provided to our school on enrolment and select Forgot password to set up their account for the first time.
Moodle (elearning)
Link to elearning.
Refer to the information in the Supervisor Support course once you have logged in.
Canvas
Link to Canvas.
Refer to the Canvas guide for supervisors (PDF 115KB)
Web lessons
Web lessons allow students and teachers to meet in a virtual classroom. These lessons offer an opportunity for students to receive explicit instructions, ask questions, get instant feedback and engage with other students.
Our school uses Microsoft Teams to deliver both scheduled class group lessons and individual web lessons.
Refer to our Technical support page to help you access the student portal and install Microsoft teams.
How to join a web lesson
Links to join web lessons are published on the student elearning and Canvas calendars. Also, look out for an elearning notification or an email which will include details, links or last minute changes. Contact your teacher if you have any questions.
Web lesson timetable
Each course has a code which you will find at the bottom of the timetable. Use the links at the bottom of the spreadsheet to navigate to your year level. This timetable will be updated at the end of each term. These web lessons only occur during the school term and not in the school holidays.
You can download each year’s timetable, edit your own version, add your own entries and print if needed. You can use these timetables to help with your weekly study plan.
Key dates
Is it Week A - Odd week or Week B - even week?
Find odd/even week numbers, term dates, school holidays and other important dates for all NSW public schools.
Safe use of generative AI
At SDEHS we are committed to preparing our students for a future where artificial intelligence is part of everyday life. In line with the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools, we support our students to engage positively, safely and ethically with department-approved generative AI tools.
NSWEduChat — a safe AI tool for student learning
All public school students have free access to NSWEduChat, the secure generative AI tool created by the NSW Department of Education. NSWEduChat provides a private, safe environment where students can build their digital literacy and use AI to support their learning and coursework.
Students can access NSWEduChat through the student portal or directly via chat.education.nsw.gov.au.
Guidance on how to get the most out of the tool is available on the department's Student use of NSWEduChat web page.
Safe use of GenAI
To support student safety and encourage the responsible use of AI, SDEHS has developed an interactive Safe Use of GenAI course in Canvas. The course covers five short modules, including:
- Introduction to Gen AI
- Introduction to Prompting
- Misinformation and GenAI
- Navigating Ethics and AI
- Understanding Bias and AI.
All Year 9 students have been enrolled in the course, with other year groups to follow. Students who complete all five modules will receive a certificate and a laptop sticker.
Use of AI in Assessment Tasks and coursework
SDEHS students are not currently permitted to use AI in assessments. For full details on what constitutes assessment malpractice, please refer to our policies outlined in our Assessment and reporting procedures.
However, students can use NSWEduChat to support their learning in coursework.
Have a question for our support teams?
Technical support
Contact this number if your question relates to hardware or software.
elearning support
Contact this number if your question relates to using elearning or Canvas.
Learning
Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress.
Technical support
Students use a wide range of digital technologies to support and enhance their learning. Discover our technical support and advice for students, parents/carers and supervisors.