Explore Search Coach features
Search Coach does more than teach learners the mechanics of search. The following special features teach learners to think and read critically when searching the Internet.
Search Coach tips
When learners open the Search Coach tab, they see a "Search tip of the day" below the search box. These tips rotate regularly and help learners build search skills.
When learners are actively searching, more tips appear beneath the search box. Some tips rotate, while learners' queries trigger others. By paying attention to the tips, learners can refine their search habits and get more relevant, reliable results.
Tips like the one above help learners understand that browsers operate on inferred intent, yielding results that satisfy a searcher’s desire. To explore this essential concept further, check out the Search Coach lesson plan for Choosing a pet. One of the best uses of tips is to inspire in-class activities and conversations; to learn more, check out the lesson plans linked at the bottom of this page!
Reliability of results
In Search Coach, many news sites are rated by NewsGuard, a company that employs journalists who objectively rate thousands of sites. Selecting the NewsGuard card in Search Coach retrieves a detailed analysis of the rating with a focus on credibility and transparency. Learners can also read the full NewsGuard Analysis, which provides more information on the rating, including sources for the analysis. It’s important to remember that NewsGuard provides omnibus ratings on news outlets, not ratings of any individual items on those sites.
Insights
Educators can find data on learners’ use of Search Coach with Insights in Microsoft Teams. Insights can be filtered to display data for the entire class or individual learners. Educators can view how learners used each filter, which types of domains were most frequently shown to and visited by learners, and even a word cloud of common search terms generated by learner queries. This data from Insights also helps educators determine where learners need more support in developing efficient and effective search skills. Some educators show the Insights word cloud to their class in real time to let learners see their peers’ searches. This activity is a great way to inspire new searches and support peer collaboration.
Finally, Insights serve as a unique formative feedback tool for educators by providing them with concrete data on their lessons: how students engage with Search Coach in response to activities or lessons can help educators discern whether the content hit home, or whether it missed the mark.
Lesson plans
Sample lesson plans covering various topics and Search Coach features are available for educators and for different grade levels. These lessons are designed to highlight the different tools and features of Search Coach and provide opportunities for learners to practice using these tools. Lesson plans can be used as whole-class lessons, small-group lessons, or frameworks for independent assignments.