The Big Six

The Big Six Skills Approach to Information Problem Solving copyright Eisenberg and Berkowitz, 1988.

The Big Six is an information literacy curriculum, an information problem-solving process, and a set of skills which provide a strategy for effectively and efficiently meeting information needs. The Big Six Skills approach can be used whenever students are in a situation, academic or personal, which requires information to solve a problem, make a decision or complete a task. This model is transferable to school, personal, and work applications, as well as all content areas and the full range of grade levels. When taught collaboratively with content area teachers in concert with content-area objectives, it serves to ensure that students are information literate.

 
The Big Six Research Model

1. Task Definition 

• 1.1 Define the task (the information problem) 
• 1.2 Identify information needed in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem, ,|

• 2. Information Seeking Strategies 
  •  2.1 Brainstorm all possible sources
  •  2.2 Select the best sources

  3. Location and Access

  •  3.1 Locate sources
  •  3.2 Find information within the source 

  4. Use of Information

  • 4.1 Engage in the source (read, hear, view, touch)
  •  4.2 Extract relevant information

  5. Synthesis

  •  5.1 Organize information from multiple sources
  •  5.2 Present the information

  6. Evaluation

  •  6.1 Judge the process (efficiency)
  •  6.2 Judge the product (effectiveness 

   

  http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au/home/library/infoproc/chres1.htm

   

  The following PDF file gives technological view of the Big 6 research model and how students can integrate technology into their research process.

   

  Computer skills for Information Problem solving and teaching technology in context

  http://www.pacc-pirc.net/PDFFiles/Computer.pdf

   

  Kuhlthau's Research Model has a slighly different view on the research process, visit the following website and compare Kuhlthau with that of the Big Six
  

  Kuhlthau's Library Research Process

  http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/psych/kuhl.html

   

  McKenzie has a different learning model again - his is more circular rather than linear

  Research model

  http://www.fno.org/oct97/research.html
  

  Information skills evaluation

  http://www.fno.org/libskill.html

   

  Gawith model is similar again but does have a more practical approach for students.
  Visit the following website

  Melbourne High School

  http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au/home/library/infoproc/chres.htm
  
  Melbourne High School has developed a very practical step by step process which the students can work through. Go to the site and look at each page as if you were a student doing a research project.
  http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au/home/library/infoproc/first.htm
  Do you think this would be helpful, and do you think it would help the students to learn the process?
  
  

  TASK 6:-

   1. From the above sites and information, how could you use the research models to help your students use technology in their research projects and in classtime?

  2. In point form, outline the benefits of students consciously working through these stages.
  

  3. Which model do you prefer and why?