Discusses the development of research skills through online searching by secondary school students, and compares online and optical data disk systems. The factors compared include cost, currency, subject areas, number of uses, search time, preparation needed, search methods, help needed, and alternative uses of the equipment. (CLB)

Discusses the role of school media specialists in teaching students to navigate information resources available through online systems. Highlights include database searching; use of the Internet; multimedia workstations; integrated learning systems; teaching library skills; authoring software; and teacher utilities. (two references) (LRW)