MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When today's kids come home from school with homework problems or research papers, they often don't have to leave the house to get help.

Stumped on an algebra equation? No problem. Need to find how fast light travels? Got it. Studying the Inca Indians? Look at these pictures. Looking for the Bill of Rights? Here's a copy.

Students of all ages use the Internet to find many answers and resources they need. No more library cards, late fees and closing times. The Internet is free, available 24-hours a day and as close as the nearest computer linked to the World Wide Web.

Dr. Michael Newman, associate professor at Mississippi State University, uses the web in teaching his agricultural and extension education classes.

"There is enough good information out there that the Internet should be recommended to students as a good source of information," Newman said. "I think teachers are excited that their students have access to more information than ever before."

When students go to the Internet for information, they basically have two options. Either they can use a World Wide Web search engine to look up a topic or they can visit sites which have compiled information, experts, data and links.

When doing an Internet search, a person types in the word, phrase or combination of words they want to learn about. The user then can visit "hits," or Internet sites which match the words they requested.

Rather than doing an Internet topic search, students can visit web sites that compile pages of links to information grouped by category, such as current events, reference materials, math and science.

"Students need to know how to do a good, efficient search using an Internet search engine," Newman said. "With just a little bit of practice, you can go from getting a lot of information that is only slightly related, to a few sources with a lot of good information."

Newman cautioned users to consider the source when determining the value of information retrieved from the Internet. Just as with other printed material, users should consider the reputation of the source when determining its credibility.

Although still new technology, major writing stylebooks have already established guidelines for documenting information from the Internet.

"I think the Internet is extremely helpful and important because students need to learn to be managers of information," Newman said. "We live in an information age where things change rapidly.

"The person who knows how to access the most up-to-date information and use it to make decisions is the one who is going to be the most successful."