User Guide
Français : Guide de l'utilisateur
- General questions
- Presentation of the library
- How to:
- Tips for finding
What is in the library?
You will find in the Youth Fusion Digital Library a large number of activities already prepared, each with a detailed plan on how to do your activity. In some cases, you will also have access to other documents already ready to use for these activities.
You will also find a large number of resources that can help you create your own activities or simply become better teachers with your existing activities.
It is possible to filter the results according to whether you are specifically looking for activities or resources.
What is the difference between an activity and a resource?
An activity is content that is generally ready to be used with a group of students for a specific period of time. The activity always includes an activity plan, and sometimes accompanying documents such as a PowerPoint presentation, one or more handouts, and other materials for the coordinator.
Activities are usually linked to a specific program, and often to a specific step of the pedagogical framework, but they can also be used in other programs, with a minimum of adaptation (see search criterion: "potentially linked to a program"). Finally, there are also general activities that are not linked to a specific program. These activities are classified in a category "General - All Programs".
See: Find activities linked to a program
A resource is any other form of content that can help you create an activity, improve your knowledge in a specific field or topic, or develop skills to be a better teacher.
For example, you will find in the resources a wide range of websites, tools (including online software and applications), reference documents, activity preparation guides, games, templates, examples, and so on.
Are there any activities or resources in my language?
The library includes activities and resources in both French and English. Some are available in both languages.
It is possible to filter the search results to retain only the results in your language.
See: Filter a search according to different criteria
What are the activities or resources "potentially related" to a program?
The activities are generally linked to a single program, for which it has been specifically built. However, these activities can sometimes be potentially useful for other programs, provided they are adapted. We have therefore created a search criterion that allows you to find other potential activities when you do not find any activity in your field.
On the resources side, they are not necessarily linked to a single program. For this reason, we have generally attributed them to programs that are "potentially related" to them. For the moment, only resources created by Youth Fusion and specifically dedicated to a program are directly linked to them.
See: Find content "potentially linked" to a program
Search Interface
If you have already searched in a typical library catalogue, you will not be too disoriented from the way the Youth Fusion Digital Library catalogue works.
As in any good catalogue, you can find the title of a resource or activity, one or more assigned subjects and a unique identifier, for example.
We have also added specific fields to the activities, for example: the program to which the activity is related, the step of the pedagogical framework, the fundamental competencies, the disciplinary skills and the target audience.
These fields are indexed, which means you can use them to refine your searches.
Thus, you can limit the results for a program, or even for a specific step related to the pedagogical framework of that program. It is a very good way to start when you need it.
See: Find activities linked to a program
You also have access to indexes to give you an idea of the scope of the library. We have selected the following indexes for you: subject, linked programs, potentially linked programs, step, fundamental competencies and disciplinary skills, audience, type, language, creator, coverage, resource type and contributor.
Generally, the subject index, which is the default option, will be particularly useful to get a good idea of what the library contains.
See: Get the list of subjects at a glance
Search results
By default, when you do a research, you see a list of results including a unique identification number, the title of the activity, the related program, the educational framework step, the type of content (activity or resource), and a description. (Some options do not appear when they are not available, such as resources.)
In the case of activities, the description generally corresponds to the objectives of the activity.
It is possible to modify the information displayed in the search results. We offer two more options: Type and subject, and title only.
See: Change the view of search results
Find activities linked to a program
When looking for an activity, to avoid receiving too many results that are not relevant to your situation, get into the habit of specifying the name of the program to which an activity can be linked.
You can do this in the main part of the search interface.
If you do not specify anything else, the search engine will display all content directly related to the selected program.
It is possible to combine search criteria to further specify.
Another way to access all content directly related to your program is to obtain the program index and click on it. To add criteria, you can simply click on "Modify search" to return to the search interface.
Find content "potentially linked" to a program
If you can't find an activity directly related to your program, try the "Potentially linked program" option.
Indeed, it is possible that some activities have not been developed specifically for your program, but that they could very well be adapted with a minimum of effort.
Select the "Potentially linked program" option.
Caution: Where possible, we have tried to identify activities that have this potential. However, this attribution is not always made, which means that it is possible that some activities with this potential have not been identified.
In the interest of continuous improvement, we invite you to make your own suggestions. Simply send a comment in the activity sheet.
See: Add a comment / Report an inappropriate comment
The "potentially linked program" option is also used for resources that may be relevant to your program.
Get the list of subjects at a glance
It is possible to know what subjects were covered for activities and resources. From the search interface, in the right-hand part, choose the "Index View" option, then in "Index Fields", choose the "Subject" option (default).
By clicking on SEARCH, you will have an overview of the topics covered.
You can specify a program in the left hand side to limit the results to a specific program. Same for language, type of content (activity or resource).
See: Filter a search according to different criteria
Change the view of search results
To change the view of the search results, select the menu at the top of the page below the text of your query. You can also specify it in the search interface, in the right section.
Do a simple keyword search
If you have difficulty finding activities for your program, you can try to do a simple search, which will be done in all indexed fields (title, subject, description, etc.).
See: Be careful with your keywords
For more precision, it is always preferable to specify the field in which you want to search.
For example, if you already know the title of an activity, it is better to specify that the keywords are in the Title field.
See: Filter a search according to different criteria
Filter a search according to different criteria
It is easy to limit search results with specific criteria such as :
- the language of the resource or activity
- the target audience (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
- fundamental competency
- disciplinary skills
- the program directly or potentially related to it
- the type of content (activity or resource)
- the step of the pedagogical framework (its number or description)
- the subject
- the title
- etc.
Just select the right field.
Add a comment / Report an inappropriate comment
It is possible to send us your comments about content (an activity or a resource) that is in the library.
This function can be used, for example, to give us your opinion on an activity or resource, report errors in the form or in an attached document, or suggest words or phrases that would make it easier to find the activity or resource.
Simply open the file for the content in question and scroll down the window. Since you are already logged in with your username, you can immediately enter your comment in the appropriate field.
Be aware that your comment will be visible to other users, so make sure that your comment can be seen by all users before you click on "SUBMIT".
Moreover, if you see a comment that should not have its place, you can use the "Flag as inappropriate" option.
Be careful with your keywords!
The library's search engine is a little more capricious and less powerful than Google's, in that it does not identify synonyms and variants of the same word (gender, number, etc.), nor does it correct mistakes. For example, you will not find "video games" using the words "video game". It is therefore necessary to use the words that are used as they are in the library.
You can help us improve search results by suggesting words or phrases that do not appear in the indexed fields.