Accessing Resources found in the
Ontario Educational Resource Bank
The Ministry of Education has released a new Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB) website.
All new provincial resources will be added to this site.
The old website located at: http://resources.elearningontario.ca will continue to be available in the
short term. This site operated using generic usernames and passwords for teachers/students. If
you continue to use this site, you will not find any of the up-to-date learning objects there and at
some point in the near future, the site will be decommissioned.
So, how do you get to the
OERB site?
At School:
Be sure you launch the Chrome web browser, not Internet
Explorer.
1. On your MySite page, click on the second tab which
should have already logged you into the virtual Learning
Environment (D2L).
Or
2. Click on the Desire2Learn icon under Useful Links
At Home:
1. Go to the Board webpage (http://www.ldcsb.on.ca) and click on the
Desire2Learn icon found under the Useful Links section on the lower left of the
Board home page.
2. Enter your e-mail address and password if prompted on the next screen under the Username
and Password fields.
3. Click on the OERB link found in the Learning Toolkit
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Instructions for the New OERB Website
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This takes you to the OERB homepage directly. No additional username/password
required. Each section of the toolbar at the top will be explained below.
A. SIMPLE SEARCH
Once you click on the Simple Search icon, the bottom of the screen will be replaced by what is
shown below.
1. Choose Language of Resource
2. Choose Language of Curriculum
3. Check this if you wish to see only resources that have been reviewed by the Ministry. The
OERB allows teachers to submit learning objects and resources, so professional judgment
should be used when searching for resources other than eLO-Developed ones.
4. Adjust number of results displayed (up to 200)
5. Refine the search to only OERB or Learn360 by choosing one instead of leaving this at All
6. Choose Public or Catholic resources here
7. Check off this box if you wish to see resources, e.g., units, activities, for “old” curriculum
documents
8. Enter the key word(s) for your search in this area (less is more!)
9. Click on Simple Search
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Instructions for the New OERB Website
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Search results are listed in sections. A
sample is shown at right. The buttons you
will use the most are the Preview and
Embed Code or Link for VLE (sometimes
just Link for VLE is shown).
Downloading an object, unzipping and
running it may not work if there are multiple
components to the object because internal
links may be broken when the object is
unzipped. (Not recommended!)
OERB learning objects can only be used in a
password protected environment and cannot
be posted on the open internet. It is
recommended that you link to or embed the
object inside your vLE online classroom
(either in the News Widget or on a Content
page.)
Preview allows you to view the Learning Object. This opens in a new tab in your browser.
The Embed Code or Link for the vLE
allows you to use the existing object easily
within the vLE. (No editing will be allowed
on the object.)
The difference between a Link and Embed
Code is as follows:

Link takes you directly to the object
within the OERB itself.

Embedding an object puts it directly into your vLE classroom (inside a widget or directly on a
page if it is an interactive object, or it is added to content if it is an activity, unit, etc.)
Please refer to the Blended Learning Instructions posted in the Training Materials widget in the vLE
for instructions on how to do this.
If you have a lot of results using a keyword or Simple search, there are ways to refine your search.
1. Adjust the keyword(s) used.
2. Use the Sort feature
3. Use the Filters
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Instructions for the New OERB Website
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B. BROWSE BY CURRICULUM
This is another alternative available for searching.
1. Choose Language of Resource
2. Choose Language of Curriculum
3. Check this if you wish to see only resources that have been reviewed by the Ministry. The
OERB allows teachers to submit learning objects and resources, so professional judgment
should be used when search for resources other than eLO-Developed ones.
4. Adjust number of results displayed (up to 200)
5. Choose the year the resource was added (2013-14, 2014-15 or 2015-16)
6. Choose between Public or Catholic resources
7. Check off this box if you wish to see resources, e.g., units, activities, for “old” curriculum
documents
8. Choose between Curriculum Expectations or Catholic Graduate Expectations
9. Choose the Grade
10. At this point you can click on the Browse by Grade button.
Or, refine your search
further by choosing
items from subsequent
dropdown menus:
grade, subject, strand,
expectation.
You can click on any
of the Browse buttons
under any of these
dropdown menu
choices to access the
list of objects filtered
for this search level.
Search results are
displayed below.
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Instructions for the New OERB Website
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C. ADVANCED SEARCH
The advanced search allows
you to be even more specific.
Here you have the
opportunity to designate up to
10 rows of search
parameters. You can search
using the following criteria:
Keywords, Title, Description,
Author, School Board,
Resource Type, Learning
Style, File Format, ELO
Resource Number or Grade.
Some of these have the
keyword option, while some
have dropdown menus to
assist with further choices.
Once you have entered your
search criteria, click on the
Advanced Search button to
perform the search. Results will be displayed below the search form.
D. ELO COURSE UNITS
There are fewer choices here. The focus is on the bottom section where you can choose the Grade,
Course and units and/or activities. Due to the ongoing nature of the curriculum review process, not
all courses/subjects will have current Ministry (e-Learning Ontario) resources available.
E. OERB HOME
This takes you back to the home page where you will see a number of other features, including:
Favourites Section
There is a featured Interactive Learning Object for each of the Grade spreads shown.
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Instructions for the New OERB Website
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A. Just click on the Grade spread at
right to display the featured object.
B. Click on the object itself to open a
new browser tab on which the
object will be displayed.
Featured Resources Section
This is similar to the above, but with a focus
on resources rather than Interactive Objects.
You should see a blue link in each of the
items which will take you to the featured site
or resource.
Useful Links Section
The links in this section take you to some commonly used curriculum support sites.
Twitter Feed Section
There is a Twitter feed integrated into the site for breaking OERB
news. Hashtag #OERB_Resources
Contact Us Section
Use the e-mail link in this section if you have questions, comments or are experiencing technical
problems, e.g., broken links at the site.
For assistance with how to use the site, please contact our
Board Technology Enabled Teaching and Learning Contact,
Linda Vandeven.
Sharing Resources Section
The link in this section pre-supposes you have
previously had an account to contribute resources to the
OERB. More may be coming from the Ministry on this.
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Instructions for the New OERB Website
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ELEMENTARY INTERFACE
Access the Elementary Interface from the link in the top right corner
of the browser. Language settings are there are well.
Yes, this does look a bit like the Student Links interface! You can toggle the sound off/on at any
point, by clicking on the speaker icon located in the top left corner of the screen.
A. Click on the Grade backpack to explore interactive objects by Grade. This then allows you to
refine your search according to subject, strand and object.
B. Type a keyword while on this screen and you will be taken to objects in all Grades K-6 which
relate to that keyword, e.g., Fractions. To launch the search, click on the magnifying glass, top
right, or click on the Enter key once
you have finished typing.
C. Help provides troubleshooting tips for accessing the site.
D. The Standard Interface link returns you to the OERB homepage displayed when you first log in.
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