Source: www.freep.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnbNcQlzV-4
•
Information access, overload, quality
•
Gaining essential information knowledge
and skills
•
Providing meaningful learning
opportunities
•
Providing opportunities for our children
to succeed at the highest possible levels.

Teachers and students report that for today’s
students, research means “Googling”.

Teachers surveyed listed Google as the first
source for research by 94% of their students.
Source: Buchanan, Judy, et al. Pew Internet. 1 November 2012. Document. 9 February 2013.
Middle School – High School Presentation
February 2013
The “Big6™” is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz.
For more information, visit: www.big6.com

Developed by educators Mike Eisenberg and Bob
Berkowitz, Big6 is a problem solving method and
is the most widely-known and widely-used
approach to teaching information and
technology skills in the world.

Big6 is not an add on – it should be woven into
existing classroom instruction.

It will aid teachers in preparing students to be
lifelong learners and problem solvers.

The Big6 derives its name from the six research steps
that make up the model. The Big6 guides users
through the following processes:
Step 1 – Task Definition
 Step 2 – Information Seeking
Strategies
 Step 3 – Location and Access
 Step 4 – Use of Information
 Step 5 – Synthesis
 Step 6 – Evaluation


Advantages
◦ The Big6 is able to be used at virtually any
grade and ability level.
◦ Students are able to work through steps at
their own pace allowing differentiation
based on interest, reading level, and learning
style (Jansen, “Differentiating Instruction”
32).
◦ Multiple literacies and content can be
integrated in a logical manner using the Big6
approach (Needham, 42).
21st Century Skills & Big 6- A Great Match
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed (to solve the
information problem)
What is the task? What types of information do I need?
What am I doing? What is the assignment? How much
time will be given? What is required? What am I
supposed to do? What will it look like if I do a really
good job? What are the essential questions?

Rubric / Evaluation. Provide students with a
checklist/rubric at the beginning of a project.
2.1 Determine all possible sources
(brainstorm)
2.2 Select the best sources
What are possible sources? Which are the best?
What will have the answers? What can I use
to find what I need?
•
Provide students with Resource options.
–Books
–Encyclopedia
–Atlas
–Almanac
–Magazine (Print and online)
–Brochure
–Interview
–World Wide Web
–Others –
Because anyone can publish on the world wide
web, it is critically important that students
learn to evaluate web sites for authority,
accuracy, relevance, currency, and objectivity.
http://www.dhmo.org/
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
Where is each source? Where is the information in
each source? Where can I find the resources?
Where can I find what I need?
Strategy
Use the index and table of contents to determine if
the source has helpful information. Skim and scan.
Read bold headings, and captions.
4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
How can I best use each source? What
information in each source is useful? How will
I organize my information? What information
can I use?
Source: http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/V1xMDn-Btkk/mqdefault.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xMDn-Btkk
Webbing
http://www.iowa-city.k12.ia.us/Library/Curriculum/InfoLit/Lessons/Webbing%20Questions.htm
Resources
•
Teach students the difference between summarizing,
paraphrasing, and quoting
Ohio University Department of Linguistics
http://www.ohio.edu/linguistics/info/quoting.html
•
Teach students to search for key words and extract
important facts
ReadWriteThink
•
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=148
•
Use a citation template so students can document
sources
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
How can I organize all the information? How
can I present the result? What will I make?
What can I make to finish the job?
◦ Citation Builder
◦ Citation Maker
◦ EasyBib
◦ KnightCite
◦ Microsoft Word 2010
6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)
Is the task completed? How can I do things
better?
Did I do a good job? How will I know if I did my
job well? Refer to rubric given at beginning of
task.
Evaluate

Use evaluation tools such as rubrics or an
evaluation checklist at the beginning and end
of a project
-Rubistar
-Rubrics4Teachers
www.rubrics4teachers.org

Using the Big6 is not always a linear, step-bystep process.

The Big6 is a useful process for solving
problems and completing tasks.

The Big6 is an ideal approach for integrating
information literacy learning with all subject
area curricula at all grade levels.
Black, Leslie. The Big6. Catawba County Schools. Catawba County Schools, 14 Mar. 2012.
Web. 22 Jan. 2013. <http://www.catawbaschools.net/schools/Oxford/Big6/CCS Big6
Training - Oxford.ppt>.


Buchanan, Judy, et al. Pew Internet. 1 November 2012. Document. 9 February 2013.
< http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Student-Research/Summary-of-Findings.aspx>

Eisenberg, Mike. The Big6: Information & Technology Skills for Student Achievement. 2007.
Web. 10 Oct. 2010.

Eisenberg, Michael and Robert E. Berkowitz. 1987. The "Big6™“. Big6.com Oct 18 2010.

Erniec. 2008. Innovation Media Centered. Theory and practice of school librarianship.
Web. Jpeg http://erniec.edublogs.org/

Gullahorn, Kat, and Deanne May. The Big6 Research Model: What Is It, Why Use It, How to
Implement It. Cooperation Station. LS 5443: Librarians as Instructional Partners, 21 Oct.
2010. Web. 22 Jan. 2013.
<http://cooperationstation.wikispaces.com/file/detail/May_Gullahorn_A%202.4.pptx>.

Jansen, Barbara A. “Differentiating Instruction in the Primary Grades with the Big6.” Library Media
Connection 27.4 (2009): 32 – 33. Web. 8 Oct. 2010.

Jansen, Barbara A. The Big6 Goes Primary: Teaching Information and Communications Technology
Skills in Grades K – 3. Santa Barbara, CA: Linworth Publishing, Inc., 2009. Print.

2009lamsy April 04, 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9B1qr7_gWE&feature=player_embedded. Oct 18 2010
Jstjmy5 (Poster) (2012, February 17). Lucy gets arrested in paris [Video] Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xMDn-Btkk


Needham, J. "Meeting the New AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner via Big6 Problem
Solving." Library Media Connection 28.6 (2010): 42 – 43. Web. 8 Oct. 2010.

Wells, Greg (Poster) (2010, October 12). I love lucy candy factory video wmv [Video] Retrieved
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnbNcQlzV-4