BIG 6 FOR TEACHERS
The BIG 6 is an information problem-solving approach developed by Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. It is the most popular model for developing information literacy skills. http://big6.com
This page is a compilation of support materials sourced from from different places online (links open to see the URLS) including part of a page from: Bethany Elementary School: http://www.rock.k12.nc.us/Page/3724
More information on applying Big6 skills was taken from: Applying Big6 Skills™, Information Literacy Standards and ISTE NETS to Internet Research by Janet Murray
Teacher Tips:
1. Task Definition
2. Information-Seeking Strategies
Research Building Blocks: Selecting Electronic Resources
3. Location and Access
Chelsea House Biographies Online
ELL Reference Center
Fact Monster
History Reference Center
Kids Know It
Kids Search
Little Earth
NoveList
Points of View Reference Center
Searchasaurus
United Streaming / Discovery Education
World Book Online
American Memory Collection- from the Library of Congress. If you teach social studies, you need to visit this page. Click on "Learning Page" for lessons and resources.
Librarians' Index to the Internet
KidsClick- Sites selected by librarians. Includes reading levels.
Yahoo! Kids- Kid friendly sites. Check out the teacher section.
Thinkfinity- Links to top sites in many disciplines, professionally developed lesson plans, classroom activities, materials
to help with daily classroom planning, and more.
Sweet Search--a search engine for students
4. Use of Information
Trash-n-Treasure Example
Notemaking- This site has downloadable graphic organizers plus multiple methods for teaching note taking.
Take Note: 5 Lessons for Note Taking Fun
WriteDesign On-Line - Graphic Organizers
Graphic Organizers lots of graphic organizers from Teacher Vision
NoodleTools
Plagiarism video- good for grades 5 and 6
Copyright for Kids
Plagiarism for Kids
5. Synthesis
Products and Assessments
6. Evaluation
- Include your librarian in the project planning and teaching of research skills. Collaboration Planning Template
- Use the sample forms and websites that are included on this site for additional information.
- Be aware that giving your students opportunities to learn research skills and helps them become better problem solvers, critical thinkers, and decision makers.
1. Task Definition
- Define the information task (problem to solve or assignment to complete)
- Identify information needed to complete the assignment or to solve the information problem
- Questioning Toolkit - Questioning strategies from Jamie Mackenzie.
- KWHL Chart
2. Information-Seeking Strategies
- Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm)
- Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources).
- Web page Evaluation- An excellent tool for determining the value of a web page. Includes a downloadable format.
- Experience the interactive exercise evaluating web pages at the U.C. Berkeley Library.
- 5 Ws of Website Evaluation by Kathy Schrock
- Rockwell Schrock's Boolean Machine
- Good website evaluation video- 8 minutes
- Good website evaluation video- 4 minutes
- Kid's Tools for Searching the Internet
- Choose the Best Search for Your Information Needs
- Read•Write•Think lesson plans for selecting best resources (grades 3-6):
Research Building Blocks: Selecting Electronic Resources
3. Location and Access
- Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
- Find information within sources
- Online Databases:
Chelsea House Biographies Online
ELL Reference Center
Fact Monster
History Reference Center
Kids Know It
Kids Search
Little Earth
NoveList
Points of View Reference Center
Searchasaurus
United Streaming / Discovery Education
World Book Online
- Great places for teachers to find Internet sites and resources to support school projects:
American Memory Collection- from the Library of Congress. If you teach social studies, you need to visit this page. Click on "Learning Page" for lessons and resources.
Librarians' Index to the Internet
KidsClick- Sites selected by librarians. Includes reading levels.
Yahoo! Kids- Kid friendly sites. Check out the teacher section.
Thinkfinity- Links to top sites in many disciplines, professionally developed lesson plans, classroom activities, materials
to help with daily classroom planning, and more.
Sweet Search--a search engine for students
4. Use of Information
- Engage (read, hear, view) the information within a source
- Extract relevant information from a source
- Note-taking : Techniques for note-taking can be found at these sites:
Trash-n-Treasure Example
Notemaking- This site has downloadable graphic organizers plus multiple methods for teaching note taking.
Take Note: 5 Lessons for Note Taking Fun
- Graphic Organizers provide a way to organize information for note-taking, brainstorming, presentation and more. Several excellent graphic organizers can be found at these sites:
WriteDesign On-Line - Graphic Organizers
Graphic Organizers lots of graphic organizers from Teacher Vision
- Citing Sources:
NoodleTools
- Copyright and plagiarism
Plagiarism video- good for grades 5 and 6
Copyright for Kids
Plagiarism for Kids
5. Synthesis
- Organize information from different sources
- Present the information
Products and Assessments
6. Evaluation
- Judge the product (effectiveness)
- Judge the information problem-solving process (efficiency).
- Kathy Schrock's collection of Assessment and Rubric Information to evaluate student projects, including web pages, research papers, multimedia and group presentations.
- MidLink Magazine's Rubrics and Evaluation Resources.
- PBL Checklists