What Semantic Scholar does

Semantic Scholar is a free tool that uses artificial intelligence to help users search and discover academic research. It uses machine learning to understand and find connections within academic papers, making it easier for users to gain a deep understanding of a topic quickly. The platform indexes over 200 million academic papers from various fields of science. It highlights important elements of a paper and finds hidden connections between research topics. Semantic Scholar also provides features like the TLDR (Too Long; Didn't Read) feature, which generates single-sentence paper summaries, and the Semantic Reader, which provides in-line citation cards and skimming highlights.

Key features for teachers

• TLDR Feature: This feature generates single-sentence summaries of academic papers, helping teachers quickly identify relevant research.
• Semantic Reader: An augmented reader that provides in-line citation cards and skimming highlights, allowing teachers to quickly grasp key points of a paper.
• Free Access to Academic Papers: Semantic Scholar indexes over 200 million academic papers from various fields of science, providing a vast resource for teachers.
• Unique Identifier for Each Paper: Each paper on Semantic Scholar is assigned a unique Semantic Scholar Corpus ID (S2CID), making it easy to reference and find specific papers.
• Access to Full-Text Articles: Through its Get Full Text Research (GetFTR) and LibKey integration, Semantic Scholar provides access to full-text articles that your institution subscribes to.

Potential classroom applications

• Promoting Critical Thinking and Analysis Skills: Teachers can use Semantic Scholar to encourage students to engage with academic literature, promoting deeper analysis and understanding.
• Improving Information Literacy and Research Skills: Semantic Scholar's advanced search features can help students learn how to conduct academic research and develop essential research skills.
• Case Study Analysis: Teachers can use the vast number of case studies available on Semantic Scholar to teach students about real-world applications of theories and concepts.
• Developing Vocabulary and Conceptual Understanding: Semantic Scholar can be used to help students develop their vocabulary and conceptual understanding in specific subject areas.

Pricing

Semantic Scholar is free to use. It does not have a pricing plan and does not search for material behind a paywall, making all its content freely accessible.