What is the Big6?
“Data collected from thousands of students showed that students who were taught informative nonfiction using the Big6 approach with a combination of analytical, creative, and practical activities, outperformed students who were taught two alternative approaches (see materials at: www.yale.edu/pace).” — Linda Jarvin, Ph.D., Associate Director, PACE Center, Yale University
Developed by educators Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz, the Big6 is the most widely-known and widely-used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. The Big6 is an information and technology literacy model and curriculum, implemented in thousands of schools - K through higher education. Some people call the Big6 an information problem-solving strategy because with the Big6, students are able to handle any problem, assignment, decision or task. Here are the six stages we call the BIG6. Two sub-stages are part of each main category in the Big6 model:
1. Task Definition
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed
2. Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine all possible sources
2.2 Select the best sources
3. Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
4. Use of Information
4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
5. Synthesis
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
6. Evaluation
6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)
Big6 Resources
Big6 Matrix
Applying Big6 Research Skills, AASL Standards and ISTE NETS to Internet Research by Janet Murray, Librarian at Yokosuka Middle School in Japan
http://janetsinfo.com/big6info.htm
More Online Resources to Support Big6 Information Skills from John Newbery Elementary Teacher-Librarian Jeanne Barnes
http://nb.wsd.wednet.edu/big6/big6_resources.htm
Research guide for students in Grades 1-4
About the eduScapes Site
Welcome teachers, parents, students, and life-long learners of all ages! This website is for you.
Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson have designed this website to share a love of learning with others. As authors and educators, we work with teachers, parents, and children around the world to effectively integrate technology into teaching and learning environments. This eduScapes website was started in August, 1998.