While the Internet can help pursue important educational goals, there are also negative aspects that limit its usefulness in a classroom setting. We discuss the design and implementation of Web database applications that aim to retain most of the positive characteristics of the Internet and the novel ideas the Web has brought, while minimizing the pedagogically questionable aspects of the medium. The main idea behind such an application is the combination of a Web-based multimedia digital library with specific educational communication activities. This is an implementation of the "Educational Knowledge Network" framework, which can be viewed as a Web-microcosm adapted to educational objectives. Pedagogical advantages of this model include the development of inquiry, communication and cooperation while learning a particular subject matter. Technical merits include ease of development, platform-independence, scalability and extensibility