Ah, the wonders of the Age of Information. We're constantly connected to each other, even when we're a whole world away—and for those of us who were around when dial-up internet was a thing, that's a big deal! What once was a marvel of science has now become a ubiquitous part of our lives, especially for teens who've never known life without a 'net. We can chat with students in China and take tours of museums in our classrooms, but when it comes to teens and online research, we've still got some progress to make. But don't fret just yet, because we've sourced some great advice to help empower TXGU'ers so they can learn to be digitally literate—using material on the internet to find and communicate information that requires the use of critical thinking and technical skills.

Let's face it—pre-internet research was never quick, but thanks to technology it's become a (happily) less time-consuming endeavor. Although even with the help of a global network of computers, studies are showing that teens don't possess the fortitude and focus to do deep research, or even know how to cite multiple sources when backing their claims. Luckily, just a few minor adjustments to students' current search methods can yield more meaningful results and give them a competitive advantage among their peers. So while doing the right research might seem slow-going for teens now, when it comes time for college, they'll be light-years ahead.