General Search & Object Specific Search Feature

**General Search versus Object Specific Search**

- Starting a search in the  **General Search bar** from the top navigation bar will redirect you to the Search Results page.    The results displayed will be objects matching the search terms utilized.   You can further refine your search from this page. 
- Starting a search in the  **Object specific Search bar** located on each landing page  will redirect you to the Search Results page with the additional filter auto-selected to the object type of the landing page.  You can further refine your search from this page.  

In the example below, you can see the varying numbers of results found based on which Object filter (Lessons, Resources, Groups) is selected.

**\*\*Note:** The naming convention of your tabs may vary depending on your platform

Various blocks exist that hold and organize the objects on each landing page and  groups.  When the 'view all' in the top right corner of one of these blocks is clicked, the modal will open displaying up to 12 objects.

A **Search box** is available at the top of this modal that allows users to perform a search by keyword for all items within the modal.

As you will see in the modal **example below**, which is set to display *Recommended Resources* for the user viewing the modal; there are 404 modal pages, each with 12 objects, so being able to perform a search within the modal for specific items as opposed to looking through each page saves users time.

When beginning a **General Search** or an **Object Specific search**, you will be directed to the **Search Results page**.

The Search Results page will display the pre-selected items matching the search terms you used in the General Search or the Object Specific Search.

In the *example below*, a **General Search** was executed with the term *Math Lessons* used. After executing the search, it defaults to 'all' because the search was started in the General Search box in the header of the platform.

In the Search bar, 'Math Lessons' is displayed because that was the search term used. All objects in the platform matching the search term that the user performing the search has access to view will display.

Boolean Search on the Search Results Page

This platform utilizes **Boolean Search**. A Boolean search is a method of searching that uses logic-based operations to limit, broaden, or define search results. Here are some common Boolean operators:

- **AND**: Narrows a search by combining terms. For example: "cats and dogs"
- **OR**: Broadens a search to include results that contain either of the words you're looking for. For example: "cats or dogs"\`

The two steps below show examples of how **Boolean Search** is applied within the platform

**Example 1:** When the **'and'** method is applied

The **Search Domains** that exist on the Search results page in the example below include: *Resource Categories*, *Content Types*, *Subjects*, *Grades*, *Audience.*

***Note***: depending on the implementation of the platform, the Search Domains will be different.

In this example, 1 item in each Search Domain has been selected, the 'and' Boolean modal is applied.

In this example, the following selections were made:

- **Content Types Domain** = Lesson plan selected
- **Subjects Domain** = English-Language Arts selected
- **Grades Domain** = Grade 1 selected

The results shown are: Lesson Plans **AND** English-Language Arts Subject area **AND** Grade 1

**Example 2:** When the **'AND'** + **'OR'** method is applied

The **Search Domains** that exist on the Search results page in the example below include: *Resource Categories*, *Content Types*, *Subjects*, *Grades*, *Audience.*

***Note***: depending on the implementation of the platform, the Search Domains will be different.

**In this example**, 1 item in each Search Domain has been selected, the '**and**' Boolean modal is applied.   A second item is selected from within a Search Domain, the 'OR' Boolean model is applied between those two items.

In this example, the following selections were made:

- **Content Types Domain** = Lesson plan selected
- **Subjects Domain** = English-Language Arts selected
- **Grades Domain** = Grade 1 selected and Grade 2 selected

The results shown are: Lesson Plans **AND** English-Language Arts Subject area **AND** Grade 1 **OR** Grade 2

**Advanced search features** have been added that allow a user to select the Boolean method applied.

A user can enable Advanced Search that allows them to select the following search settings:

- **Require All Subjects Match**:    if this is toggled on, the objects searched for will only be those that have ALL of the subjects indicated in their meta-data.    For example, if Math and Science are selected, the objects that display will be tagged with Math AND Science. 
- **Require All Grades Match:**  same as above, only with Grades
- **Require All Audience Match:**  same as above, only with Audience

Caeducatorstogether

Digecosystem

Alaskaeducationexchange

Corelearn

Ascendlx

(updated 11/7/24)

This guide offers a comprehensive overview of the search functionalities available on the platform, including both general and object-specific search features, which help users efficiently locate relevant content. It explains how to refine searches using Boolean operators, enhancing the ability to narrow or broaden results based on specific criteria.

Search Features