How Internet Explorer 8 Accelerators can support learning

I’m very fickle when it comes to internet browsers, and I have no real affiliation to any. I also don’t use extensions or plug ins and I’m rubbish at keeping bookmarks or favourites!

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while since Microsoft’s Fun Free Friday event a while back. One feature in particular struck me as being simple and effective in supporting learning. These are the Accelerators that are part of Internet Explorer 8.

To me, this is a great example of where learning takes centre stage as the tool uses both Bing and Google tools. I’ve created a screen cast that attempts to simulate a typical student search experience. Like a similar post, I’ve chosen the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

I also make no apologies for the rough and ready nature of the screen cast. As mentioned before, if I can’t run with a tool after a period of not using it, then it’s value in a classroom could be questioned. I do apologise, however, for the slow running nature of the internet connection during the recording, although this may simulate quite well a typical school network ;-)

Here’s the screen cast,which is also viewable here.

Of course, the next battle is to actually get IE8 on our network!

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David Rogers

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