Summary
Search Coach and Search Progress help learners build information literacy skills that travel with them—across subjects, across platforms, and into a world increasingly shaped by AI and algorithmic recommendations.
Search Coach gives students a safe, low-distraction space to practice the mechanics of searching: writing strong queries, using filters with intention, and noticing patterns in what shows up. Insights let you see how learners search and where they might need coaching.
Search Progress brings that practice into structured assignments and adds the metacognitive layer: learners document why they chose what they chose, verify sources through lateral reading, and reflect on their process. Teachers gain visibility into the thinking behind the work—not just the final product.
Together, these tools help coach the research habits that lead to stronger, more honest student work. And the skills students build here? They're exactly what students need to navigate AI tools, social media, and the information-rich world beyond school.
Key takeaways
- Search Coach is great for practice, mini-lessons, and building search skills in a safe environment
- Search Progress brings structure to assignments and makes learners' reasoning visible
- Lateral reading is a core skill: leave the page and check what other sources say
- Metacognition (thinking about thinking) helps strategies stick and transfer to new situations
- Insights helps spot patterns, provide targeted feedback, and celebrate strong work
These skills aren't just for school—they're foundational for AI literacy and digital citizenship
For more training options in your local language, check Global Training Partners in your country/region.
Resources
- Students Are Easily Duped Online. We Can Teach Them Better
- Digital Inquiry Group
- Lateral Reading: Reading Less and Learning More When Evaluating Digital Information by Sam Wineburg, Sarah McGrew (SSRN)
- Search Coach arms students with crucial research skills – An interview with Microsoft EDU
- Engaging students in design thinking - A reflective journey
Search Coach and Search Progress
- Get started with Search Coach
- Search Coach quick start guide
- Leverage Search Coach to build information literacy skills
- Search Progress quick start guide
- Introducing Search Progress: A new way to assign and track research projects in Microsoft Teams
- Expand students' information literacy skills: A guide to Search Progress for educators
Customer stories
Social media
- Microsoft Education on Facebook
- Microsoft Education on LinkedIn
- Microsoft Education on TikTok
- Microsoft Education on YouTube