Search Engines in Learning Contexts: A Literature Review

The web is one of the primary sources of information for finding learning oriented documents. In addition, the main suitable way to find information and documents on the Internet is by using search engines. Search engines are constantly improving in terms of selection algorithms and in terms of the Human Machine interface (HMI). Also, these search engines are the basis of a new field of research called Search-As-Learning. The Search-As-Learning explores information search environments to enhance learning during user search tasks. This work focuses on our view of the state of the art in the field of Search Engines in learning context and Search-As-Learning, stressing on the most recent research. We conclude by highlighting the current shortcomings on improvement of the learning aspect within search engines, and present next work which will be the association of a layer above the traditional search engines to promote the appropriation of content during search task for a learning context.