The BIG 6™

A proven approach to information

problem-solving.

The Information Situation

More information has been produced in the last 30 years than in the previous 5,000!

Information is increasing 30 percent per year!!

New mediums of technology are being introduced at a rapid rate!!!

Do You See The Problem???

1998 – number of web sites was estimated at 2,410,067

2000 – about 7 million sites 2005 – a study estimated the World

Wide Web to contain 11.5 billion pages (not sites)

2006 - 100 million web sites with domain names, half of which were active

2007 – between 25-30 BILLION web pages

…can lead to Process Overload!

• The Internet can be overwhelming to adults and students.• Where do I begin?

An Information Explosion…

What is The BIG6™?

The Big6™ is an information literacy model. The process is also referred to as an information problem solving strategy.

The BIG6 Basics

Big 6 gets its name from the 6 steps involved. It is a systematic process, but not always a

linear one. Not every project will be a full-blown one. If successful, it is usually a team effort. The more skills your students have, the easier

it will be to implement.

Step 1. TASK DEFINITION

1.1 Define the information problem

1.2 Identify information needed in order to complete the task (to

solve the information problem)

Step 2. INFORMATION SEEKING STRATEGIES

2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm)

2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources)

Inspiration 8 Document

Step 3. LOCATION AND ACCESS

3.1 Locate Sources(intellectually and physically)

3.2 Find information within sources

Step 4. USE OF INFORMATION

4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear,view, touch) theinformation in a source

4.2 Extract relevant information

from a source (trash/treasure,

note taking skills)

Data Sheets/Charts

Create a data sheet or chart to house all the information for your project.

Can be various sizes, depending upon need.

Basic Data Sheet Layout

Microsoft Word Document

Specific headings for information

Place for sources to be written down

Boxes of various sizes for each piece of information needed

Basic Data Chart Layout

Topic

Student Name

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 5

Bibliographic Info: Source 1

Biblio Info Source 2

Biblio Info; Source 3

summary summary summary summary summary

Step 5. SYNTHESIS

5.1 Organize information

from multiple sources

5.2 Present the information

Step 6. EVALUATION

6.1 Judge the product(effectiveness)

6.2 Judge the information

problem-solving process(efficiency)

Project Time!!!!!

Each grade level will create a “bottle figure” or a postage stamp for a famous person.

Please select a person appropriate to your grade level (3rd – inventors, 4th – Texans, 5th – Renaissance, 6th – Mythology, for example)

The End!

Enjoy using this wonderful method for research and information-searching.