As AI creeps into more areas of our daily lives, it’s crucial that we ensure our students know not only how to access information but evaluate it.
The new enhancements for Microsoft Learning Accelerator Search Progress aim to further support information literacy skills.
Verifying sources, understanding context and thinking critically are essential for responsible and effective navigation of online information.
In this guide, we cover the latest Search Progress updates and how they allow educators to scaffold the research process for students.
What is Microsoft Search Progress?
Search Progress is a Microsoft Learning Accelerator designed to strengthen information literacy, supporting students to develop key research skills and learn how to cite credible sources for their assignments.
Search Progress is built into Microsoft Teams Assignments and allows educators to create, customise and assign research projects where learners use Search Coach to gather sources and reflect on selections.
In this episode of the Cloud Design Box podcast, Darren Hemming speaks with Emma Gray, Product Manager responsible for Search Progress:
New enhancements to Microsoft Search Progress
Microsoft is constantly enhancing its Learning Accelerators and has announced some upcoming improvements to Search Progress for educators to enjoy.
“Importantly, these Search Progress enhancements aren’t just for formal research projects: they’re designed for any assignment or class activity that involves online research,” says Emma Gray.
“Whether students are exploring a new topic, gathering sources for a presentation, or verifying information for a discussion, Search Progress aims to help them build habits that will transfer easily throughout the digital information ecosystem – from more wisely navigating social media to more thoughtfully using AI tools.”
Connect information to its source
The new improvements will allow students to learn that every piece of content comes from somewhere and is created for a reason.
Search Progress will support them in considering the author of the information and why they wrote it.
Evaluate source reputability
The new features will also support students to look into the individuals and organisations behind resources, rather than solely rely on what the source says about itself.
Impact awareness
Search Progress will get students considering what the risk could be if the information is inaccurate or fabricated.
Cross-check and lateral reading
The new enhancements will encourage students to compare information and perspectives from multiple sources – not just the internet – to reveal patterns, differences and possible inaccuracies.
Metacognitive awareness
The updates will get students to reflect on their research process every step of the way, including why certain sources stood out, which search strategies work best and how to apply their learnings in the future.
“To ensure these features were developed in alignment with the latest in online reasoning research, Microsoft consulted with experts from the Digital Inquiry Group,” explains Emma.
“This is a team with decades of experience as curriculum designers, classroom educators, researchers, and teacher educators – that has been recognised with awards from UNESCO, the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the American Educational Research Association, and the School Library Association, to name a few.”
When will the new updates be released?
Check out our other resources on Microsoft Learning Accelerators here:
- Smarter learning tools for students and teachers with new updates to Microsoft Learning Accelerators
- Microsoft Learning Accelerator Updates – Autumn/Winter 2025
- Search Coach arms students with crucial research skills – An interview with Microsoft EDU
- Smarter learning tools for students and teachers with new updates to Microsoft Learning Accelerators
Cloud Design Box helps schools harness the full power of Microsoft 365 for education, Teams and SharePoint. We build powerful online hubs for schools and multi academy trusts to help improve communication, foster collaboration, maximise productivity and reduce workload.
