With the introduction of revised Leaving Certificate specifications, Chemistry students are increasingly required to demonstrate research skills through Additional Assessment Components (AACs). One digital tool that has proven particularly effective in supporting this process is the Search Progress learning accelerator within Assignments in Microsoft Teams.
In my Leaving Cert Chemistry classes, I have used Search Progress to scaffold students’ research for their AAC investigations. Rather than asking students to “research a topic” independently, Search Progress breaks the task into clear, manageable stages. Students begin by refining their research question—often linked to topics such as environmental chemistry, reaction rates, or the chemistry of materials—before identifying key search terms and locating relevant sources.
A major benefit for Chemistry students is the emphasis on source evaluation. Search Progress prompts students to reflect on the credibility of scientific articles, websites, and data sources, encouraging them to distinguish between peer-reviewed material, reputable educational sites, and less reliable sources. This directly supports the development of scientific literacy and aligns well with the skills required by the SEC for AACs.
The structured reflection checkpoints built into Search Progress promote metacognition. Students must explain why they selected particular sources and how the information informed their understanding of chemical concepts. This reduces superficial copy-and-paste work and supports authenticity in student submissions.
From a teacher perspective, the progress dashboard provides valuable insight into student thinking at each stage of the research process. This allows for timely feedback and targeted guidance long before the final AAC submission.
Overall, integrating Search Progress into Chemistry AAC assignments has helped students become more confident researchers while supporting the development of critical thinking and independent learning!
Watch this short 2 min video to get started: 1.5 Assign research projects with Search Progress
Or you can complete the training on Microsoft Learn: Teach Information Literacy with Search Coach and Search Progress – Training | Microsoft Learn