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AOL Introduces StudyBuddy.Com, A Free Search Engine for Homework Help

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 August 2006, 12:00 CDT

AOL: New Search Tool Offers K-12 Students Safe, Relevant, Grade-Appropriate Resources for All of Their Educational Needs New Virtual Backpacks Allow Parents and Students to Store and Share Their Favorite Videos and Content

AOL today announced the launch of StudyBuddy.com (www.StudyBuddy.com), a free search engine built just for homework for grades K through 12 and available to all Internet users. Featuring advanced search tools and extensive content from trusted references and educator-screened Web sites, StudyBuddy.com delivers information customized to each student's grade level and homework needs.

Unlike other free educational offerings on the market, the StudyBuddy.com search engine anticipates the information needs of students and breaks results down into grade-appropriate groups: kindergarten to second grade; third to fifth grade, sixth to eighth grade; and ninth to twelfth grade. While students can enter a word or two as regular search engines require, StudyBuddy.com also allows them to enter sentences to find the most relevant information for homework help. Powered by technology partner blinkx, StudyBuddy.com's unique search functionality also organizes results by media type to best meet assignment source requirements.

Easily accessible 24 hours a day, even after the library has closed, StudyBuddy.com connects students to more than one million pieces of trusted content, including educator-approved Web sites, as well as books, journals, articles, newspapers, encyclopedias, multimedia videos, audio clips, maps and more. Providing the best possible resources for homework help, StudyBuddy.com returns content from leading providers as World Book Encyclopedia, The Columbia Encyclopedia, National Wildlife Federation, TIMEforkids.com, The Princeton Review, Night Sky, Sky & Telescope and blinkx. Also included is content from CIA World Fact Book, as well as a wide range of resources from Thomson Gale, a world leader in information solutions and reference materials for libraries.

Other distinguishing StudyBuddy.com features include Backpacks, or online folders, where students can save searches and content and even share the saved items with siblings and parents. Likewise, when parents create a free StudyBuddy.com account, they can mark search returns to appear in their children's Backpacks. Parents also can monitor the contents of their kids backpacks as well.

In the coming months, teachers will be able to add StudyBuddy.com on their Web sites and to create their own virtual Backpacks that they can fill with links to articles or videos that they want to share with their students. Instead of creating a teacher shelf in the library, teachers can choose from a variety of multimedia resources and there is no line to check out the book or video.

"We did our homework when creating StudyBuddy.com and incorporated extensive feedback from teachers, parents and students," said June Herold, Vice President & General Manager of AOL Education and Consumer Services. "For students, the number one request was to reduce the amount of returns a search engine provides, so we've implemented search technology that returns content that is both credible and relevant to their classroom assignments. Furthermore, teachers want search results that fuel learning outside of the classroom, and parents want tools that make it easy for them to help their kids work on homework. To address these needs, StudyBuddy features free brainteaser games and interactive resources to make learning fun and to stimulate all types of learners. Also, we've added tools that make it easy for parents to monitor their children's activities and progress."

In addition to offering homework help resources, StudyBuddy.com incorporates AOL's suite of award-winning AOL(R) Learning Services. Affordably priced at $4.95 per month, each online service is designed to improve students' proficiency in areas where they may require additional assistance. Each service also includes a Parent Center that provides performance assessments and progress reports so that parents can better understand their children's skill levels and manage their learning paths accordingly. The AOL Learning Services include:

-- AOL(R) Learning Games: Offers more than 100 fun, easy-to-use

games that help children ages 3-8 build skills in language

arts, math, science, social studies and art.

-- AOL(R) Ready Set Read: Helps children ages 3-8 become

accomplished readers and encourages a love of reading through

more than 60 interactive activities and lessons.

-- AOL(R) Step by Step Math: Makes math easy for children ages

9-17 with step by step explanations of math problems similar

to those found their textbooks.

-- AOL(R) Writing Wizard: Helps children ages 9-17 learn to write

by providing instant, personalized feedback on essays and

reports.

-- AOL(R) Family Library: Puts the power and resources of a world

class reference library into families' homes, giving students

ages 9-17 access to more than 8 million articles, journals,

periodical, maps, videos, pictures, transcripts and more.

Additionally, recognizing the stumbling block that algebra poses in many students' grade progression and high school graduation, AOL has launched on StudyBuddy.com a free online math service called AOL Algebra 1 Review to meet their learning needs in anticipation of standardized tests. The AOL Algebra 1 Review service features a pre-assessment quiz to analyze a student's strengths and weaknesses, plus it provides tutorials on those areas where extra help is needed.

About AOL

AOL and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Web brands include the AOL.com(R) website, AIM(R), MapQuest(R) and Netscape(R). AOL offers a range of digital services in the areas of education, safety and security, communications and music. The company also has operations in Europe and Canada. AOL LLC is a majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and is based in Dulles, Virginia.

Source: Business Wire

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