Search tools in Search Coach
Search Coach makes key search moves visible and easy to practice. The skills learners build here transfer to any search engine—Google, Bing, or whatever they use at home.
What's a search query? Simply the words or phrase someone types into a search bar. Writing a strong query is a skill in itself!
The four standard tools are:
- Domain
- File type
- Date range
- Operators
Domain filter
A domain is the ending of a website address (like .com or .org). Domains can hint at the type of site a learner is on:
| Domain | What it typically signals |
|---|---|
| .com | Commercial or business sites |
| .org | Organizations (but quality varies widely—nonprofits, advocacy groups, and professional associations all use .org) |
| .edu | Higher education institutions (in some regions) |
| .gov | Government sites (in some regions) |
In Search Coach, learners can filter results by these common domains to focus their search.
Teachers can also edit the domain list in Class settings to include domains that are more relevant to a region—for example, .ac.uk (UK academic), .gov.au (Australian government). This helps learners practice with domains they'll actually encounter.
File type filter
Sometimes learners need a specific kind of document—not just any webpage. The File type filter helps them find:
- PDFs-often research papers, reports, or official documents
- PowerPoint presentations-great for finding slide decks on a topic
- Word documents-sometimes templates, guides, or editable drafts
Date range filter
This filter shows results based on when a page was discovered by the search engine. Learners focus on sources from the past 24 hours, week, month, year, or set a custom range.
Depending on the search engine, this may reflect when content was indexed (not necessarily when it was written or last updated). Encourage learners to also look for the publish or update date on the page itself.
This matters most for current events, science, or any topic where information changes quickly. Technology is a good example: features, pricing, and best practices shift so often that an article from even a year ago may be outdated.
Operators
Search operators are special characters or words that give learners more control over their results. Teaching these explicitly helps students understand that search engines respond to how you ask, not just what you ask:
| Operator | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| OR | Broadens search to include either term | volcano OR earthquake |
| NOT or - | Excludes a term from results | jaguar -car (finds the animal, not the vehicle) |
| AND | Requires both terms to appear | photosynthesis AND diagram |
| " " (quotes) | Finds an exact phrase | "to be or not to be" |
Search Coach surfaces tips about operators as students search, turning everyday practice into learning moments.
Class settings
If teachers want to give learners more structure—or keep them focused during a specific lesson—they can customize Search Coach in Class settings.
Fact check filter
Turn on this filter to surface a curated set of fact-checking sources in search results. It's a great way to introduce learners to verification as a habit: when unsure about a claim, look for what fact-checkers say. Educators can always edit the list of go-to fact check sites in the Class settings menu.
Custom filter
Create a list of approved domains for learners to search within. This is helpful when you want to:
- Keep younger learners focused on a curated set of age-appropriate sites
- Have students practice evaluating sources within a defined, manageable set
- Design a lesson around specific high-quality or intentionally mixed-quality sources
Teachers can also choose a background image in Class settings to personalize the environment—a small touch that can make the space feel more inviting.
