In this episode of the Cloud Design Box podcast, Darren Hemming speaks with Emma Gray, Product Manager behind Microsoft Learning Accelerators Search Coach and Search Progress.
The pair discuss the benefits of Search Coach and Search Progress for teachers and students, as well as the importance of information literacy, critical thinking, discernment and adaptability when navigating today’s vast and complex sea of information.
Many of our customers are already using Search Coach to help students develop their research skills when searching the web, including The Cornerstone Multi Academy Trust, which says the tool is “empowering children to operate and exist in a modern world filled with misinformation and false news.”
Having grown up with journalist parents, Emma has always had a strong respect for journalistic integrity, with the topic frequently being discussed around the dinner table during her formative years.
“Strong opinions, loosely held” is a mantra she has carried with her from her youth to her current role as part of the Microsoft EDU Search Coach and Search Progress team.
Information literacy is a crucial future-ready skill for students
Today, young people must navigate a vast and complex sea of information, whether it’s to research for an academic essay or separate fact from opinion in their everyday lives.
We live in a world of echo chambers, social media algorithms, and artificial intelligence, and the landscape is constantly evolving.
Both Search Coach and Search Progress aim to help teachers weave the increasingly crucial skills of critical thinking and discernment into the curriculum and existing coursework without disrupting class priorities.
Search Coach – A search engine with training wheels
Search Coach can be integrated seamlessly into existing research-based assignments, such as essays, posters and presentations.
It’s all about strengthening information literacy and distinguishing fact from option.
Here are just some of the tools students can use in Search Coach:
Search tips – Every day, there’s a new search tip on the homepage. Search tips also appear as you search.
NewsGuard – Rates the credibility and transparency of each website.
Domain filter – You can set up Search Coach to only show results from specific domains, for example, .com, .gov or .edu. You can also choose to filter by specific regions.
File type filter – Helps students find resources in specific formats, like PDF or PowerPoints, which can help them discover academic articles.
Date range filter – Students can select a specific date range from which they want to find relevant information. This allows them to discover the most up-to-date information or even choose to find articles from a previous time period.
Operators filter – Help students make their search more specific.
What’s more, when teachers set research tasks, they can define the number of sources students should cite and even enable reference generation tools.
Search Progress – Developing of life-long learners
As students work through their research projects using Search Progress, they can collect sources in the sidebar. Each source is saved along with the query that led to it and the student’s own justification for why they chose that source – making it easier to document the research process as they go.
At the end of their research, they have the chance to reflect on the list of sources they have chosen and look at the original search queries that led them to particular sources.
They then have the option of copying the list of sources to reference in their assignment – a skill that will undoubtedly support them later in their academic careers.
Search Progress – Track your students’ information literacy skills
Search Progress is a tool for teachers to monitor their classes’ information literacy skills as they develop.
When assignments are handed in, teachers can look at the sources and search queries their students used for their work. A bit like “showing your workings out” in a maths question.
What’s next for Microsoft Learning Accelerators?
We were lucky enough to get an inside scoop of what’s next for the Microsoft EDU team.
Emma’s main goal at the moment is to support teachers with integrating Search Progress and Search Coach into their classrooms.
However, the Microsoft EDU team are also busy developing Math Coach and Speaker Progress.
Additional sources:
- Smarter learning tools for students and teachers with new updates to Microsoft Learning Accelerators
- Develop search strategies with Search Coach and Search Progress
- Search Coach and Progress class materials pilot sign-up
- Math Progress and Coach Educator Community and preview access
- Speaker Progress Preview
